Narmada Bachao Andolan|Save the Narmada Movement 1985|Importance & facts for UPSC!

Narmada Bachao Andolan is related to an Indian social movement launched in 1985 by native tribals, farmers, environmentalists, and human rights activists in opposition to a number of large dam projects on the Narmada River, which flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Originally known as the Narmada Dharangrast Samiti, or Committee for Narmada Dam-Affected People, the movement was renamed Narmada Bachao Andolan in 1989.

This topic of ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Paper 3 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Preliminary) and particularly in the Environment section of the UPSC IAS EXAM. 

In this article, we shall discuss ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and learn about the Save Narmada Movement 1985, Its Importance, the Role of the World Bank and Morse 

Commission, and more!

Narmada Bachao Andolan

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About the Sardar Sarovar Dam

• The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam built on the Narmada River near Kevadiya in the Narmada District of Gujarat, India.
• India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, envisioned this project, and Jawaharlal Nehru laid the groundwork for it in 1961.
• The Sardar Sarovar Dam is India’s third tallest concrete dam (163 metres), after Bhakra (226 metres) in Himachal Pradesh and Lakhwar (192 metres) in Uttar Pradesh.

What is Narmada Bachao Andolan?

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is a social movement in India. It was launched in 1985 to oppose the construction of many large dams on the Narmada River. The NBA is led by a group of activists, including Medha Patkar. They argue that the dams will displace thousands of people and have a devastating impact on the environment. The NBA has been successful in delaying the construction of some of the dams. 

Formation of Narmada Bachao Andolan

Several groups, such as the Narmada Asargrastha Samiti in Gujarat, the Narmada Ghati Nav Nirman Samiti in Madhya Pradesh, and the Narmada Dharangrastha Samiti in Maharashtra, had different viewpoints regarding the need for fair rehabilitation plans and opposition to dam construction without proper resettlement policies.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) was formed by local people, professionals, activists, and NGOs who advocated for non-violent means to address these issues. Medha Patkar led the movement, aiming for an alternative development model nationally and holding the World Bank accountable internationally.

Formation of Narmada Bachao Andolan

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People Involved in Narmada Bachao Andolan

• Medha Patkar is a prominent leader of the movement. She has organized hunger strikes and peaceful protests and has been imprisoned many times for the cause.
• Baba Amte is renowned for his work against leprosy. He also opposed the dam construction. He published a booklet titled "Cry O Beloved Narmada" in 1989.
• Filmmaker Ali Kazimi documented the 1991 Sangharsh Yatra in his film "Narmada: A Valley Rises."
• Anand Patwardhan is a veteran documentary filmmaker. He produced an award-winning documentary called "A Narmada Diary" in 1996.
• Alok Agarwal, a current member of the Aam Aadmi Party, remains actively involved in the movement.
• Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in a rally organized by the NBA in 2016.

Key Features of Narmada Bachao Andolan

• The Narmada Bachao Andolan was a social mass movement that began in 1985 to protest the lack of appropriate resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policy for the more than 250,000 displaced due to the construction of large dams along the Narmada River.
• Initially known as the Narmada Dharangrast Samiti or Committee for Narmada Dam-Affected People, the Narmada Bachao Movement was renamed in 1989.
• The Narmada Valley project was conceived in 1946, but construction did not begin until 1978 when the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (NWDT) issued final orders that included R&R plans.
• The plan was to construct 30 large dams, 135 medium dams, and 3,000 small dams along the 1,312-kilometer Narmada River from Madhya Pradesh to Gujarat.
• Except for the Sardar Sarovar Dam, all dams were in Madhya Pradesh.
• This decision was based on the assumption that it would provide water to approximately forty million people, irrigation, and electricity to the region’s residents.
• The 138.68-meter-high wall of the Sardar Sarovar Dam would submerge 38,000 hectares of land, displacing 244 villages and 250,000 people.
• The villages comprise 81% of its basin and are primarily populated by tribal populations such as Bhils, Gonds, Baigas, and others whose primary occupation is agriculture.
• The construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam resumed in 1999 and was completed in 2006. The project’s height was increased from 138 to 163 meters. PM Narendra Modi dedicated it in 2017.

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Protest Activities under Narmada Bachao Andolan

The movement quickly evolved into a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) that brought together tribals, farmers, environmental activists, and human rights activists to oppose the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which was being built on the Narmada River in Gujarat, India’s westernmost state.

• Protesters have engaged in extensive media campaigns as well as peaceful demonstrations.
• Examples are hunger strikes, celebrity endorsements from the art and film worlds, and other such methods.
• The dam faced its first legal challenge in 1985, when Medha Patkar, then 35, petitioned the Supreme Court against it, citing poor R&R.
• The Narmada Bachao Andolan organized a 2,000-person, five-day sit-in at PM V. P. Singh’s residence in New Delhi in May 1990, which convinced the Prime Minister to reconsider the project.
• Approximately 6000 men and women began the Narmada Jan Vikas Sangharsh Yatra (Narmada People’s Progress Struggle March) in December 1990, marching over 100 kilometres.
• Baba Amte and the seven-member team began an indefinite hunger strike (22 days) and a sit-unto-death in January 1991.
• Finally, in 2017, the Supreme Court ordered that final compensation of Rs. 60 lacs be paid to each of the families affected by the Sardar Sarovar project on the Narmada River.

Success & Achievements of Narmada Bachao Andolan

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has greatly served the country by raising awareness about the environmental, rehabilitation, and relief aspects of Sardar Sarovar and other Narmada projects.

• NBA has been effective in its various executive, legislative, and judicial strategies, campaigning against the destruction and displacement caused by large dams and advocating for the rights of those affected – farmers, labourers, tribals, fishermen, and others.
• It received worldwide support.
• The struggle and glory of the Narmada Save Movement is a symbol of the global struggle for social and environmental justice.
• In 1993, The World Bank withdrew from Sardar Sarovar.
• The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Andolan, directing the concerned states to complete the rehabilitation and replacement process.
• Foreign investors withdrew from the Maheshwar Dam between 1999 and 2001.
• To some extent, it has been successful in the rehabilitation of people.

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Challenges Towards Narmada Bachao Andolan

• The NBA has faced state repression, including arrests, police brutality, and legal harassment. In 1991, Medha Patkar was arrested and charged with sedition for her opposition to the dam. She was released on bail after several months, but the charges against her were never dropped.
• The NBA is up against the power of the state, which is backing the construction of the dams. The government has the resources to crush the movement if it chooses to do so.
• The issue of dams is complex, and there are many different viewpoints. The NBA has to contend with the arguments of those who support the dams.
• There is a lack of political will to address the concerns of the NBA. The government has been reluctant to make any changes to the dam project, even in the face of strong opposition from the movement.
• The NBA has been divided over the years. Some members favor more radical tactics, and others favor more moderate approaches. This division has weakened the movement and made it more difficult to achieve its goals.

Slogans of Narmada Bachao Andolan

The Narmada Bachao Andolan has the following slogans:

• Vikas Chahiye, Vinash Nahin
• Koi nahi hatega, bandh nahi banega
• Narmada Bachao, Manav Bachao

Slogans of Narmada Bachao Andolan

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Role of World Bank and Morse Commission

• After receiving approval from the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal, the World Bank began work on the Narmada Project.
• The World Bank agreed to finance the Sardar Sarovar Dam with a $450 million contribution in 1985 without consulting the indigenous communities that would be displaced.
  • However, the World Bank initially sent a team to assess the project in economic and technical terms, but this team did not focus on social or environmental issues.
• The argument in favour of the Sardar Sarovar Project is that the benefits outweigh the costs of the immediate human and environmental disruption.
• In 1989, Medha Patkar and other protesters testified in Washington, D.C., about the World Bank’s role.
• This increased pressure on the Bank to commission an independent review of the situation.
• 1991, the Morse Commission was formed to investigate the dam’s construction, environmental costs, and human displacement.
• The lack of any environmental assessment undertaken by either the Indian government or the World Bank was mentioned in the 357-page report.
  • However, The Bank narrowly supported the continuation of the Narmada Dam Project in an internal referendum.
• Finally, on March 31, 1993, the Indian government cancelled the World Bank-approved loan.

Importance of the Save Narmada Movement

• The movement's main goal was to halt dam construction until the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced people were completed.
• It was one of the most significant mass movements against the government to promote environmental protection in India’s political history.
• The movement united various castes in order to protect their land and homes from submergence.
• Native tribals, farmers, environmentalists, and human rights activists spearheaded the movement.
• It received backing from international environmental organisations.
• Furthermore, the movement served as a check on government oppression and aided people in their fight for their rights.
• Finally, it was their struggle that prompted the following questions:
• Raised a voice for the right to information
• Right to food and livelihood
• Importance of Environmental Impact Assessment
• The government should set up a suitable framework for relocating and rehabilitating indigenous people before beginning such development projects.

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Narmada River

The Narmada and Tapi rivers are the major west-flowing rivers in Peninsular India. The Narmada River flows east to west between the Vindhya and Satpura hill ranges and is the longest west-flowing river in Peninsular India. Here are some quick facts about the Narmada River for the UPSC Exam:

Narmada River
Origin	Maikala Mountain Range, Near Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh.
Length	1312 kilometers, India’s fifth-longest river.
Right bank tributaries	Balai, Biranjo, Barna, Chandrakeshar, Choral, Gaur, Hathni, Hiran, Jamner, Karam, Kenar, Khari, Kolar, Man, Orsang, Silgi, Sip, Tendoni, Uri.
Left bank tributaries	Anjal, Banjar, Borad, Burhner, Chhota Tawa, Deb, Dudhi, Goi, Hather, Kaveri (MP), Karjan, Kharmer, Khurkia, Kunda, Machak, Sanair, Sher, Shakkar, Sukhri, Tawa, Temur.
Other Names	Rewa, Nerbudda, and Life Line of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
States	Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat
Hydro electric projects	In the Narmada Basin, there are the following hydroelectric projects: Indira Sagar Project (ISP) – Khandwa, MP Omkareshwar Hydroelectric Project – Khandwa, MP Maheshwar Hydroelectric Project – Khandwa, Khargone Rani Avanti Bai Sagar (Bargi) Hydroelectric Project – Jabalpur, MP Tawa Hydroelectric Project – Hoshangabad, MP Sardar Sarovar Hydro Electric Project -Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
Mouth	Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea

Conclusion

Narmada Bachao Andolan was a massive mass movement that followed the Chipko movement, which was extremely popular in the country. The movement emphasised the importance of preserving biodiversity and how new dam construction could affect the community’s livelihood. Activists such as Medha Patkar, Baba Amte, and indigenous peoples were severely repressed, but they never gave up hope.

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UPSC Previous Year Questions

Q1. How did land reforms in some parts of the country help to improve the socio-economic conditions of marginal and small farmers? (UPSC Mains 2021, GS Paper 3).

Q2. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020, differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? (UPSC Mains 2020, GS Paper 3).

Q3. Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts that always attract controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects. (UPSC Mains 2016, GS Paper 3).

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