K.I.3. The development of a major water resource scheme can bring about linked:

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K.I.3. The development of a major water resource
scheme can bring about linked Physical Economic
Social changes in the immediate
environment. These may be positive and negative
depending on the context, But can lead to
conflict.
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The Narmada Valley Scheme India North of Mumbai.
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Pros and cons Indian food production rose from
50 to 200 million tonnes 1950-1997 two-thirds of
increase from irrigation but not make clear what
proportion of the increase was contributed by
large dams estimated 10 Government claims 30
Before 1978 all dams built without an
environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA became
statutory only in 1994 Estimates of those
displaced by large dams in India in the last 50
years vary from 21 to 56 million people 40 of
those displaced are adivasis (tribal people)
Less than 50 of people displaced by large
projects are rehoused The costs of dams are
systematically underestimated and their benefits
are inflated Accepted cost-benefit ratio for
large dams is not met(80 of cases) Heavy
silting shortens the life of many dams There
have been 17 cases of earthquake tremor induced
by large reservoirs in India
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Narmada is the fifth largest river in India and
largest west flowing river of Indian peninsula
originating from an elevation of 900 m . It flows
westwards over a length of 1,312 km before
draining into the Gulf of Cambay. The basin lies
between east longitudes 72 32 and 81 45' and
north latitudes 21 20' and 23 45'. The basin
has an elongated shape almost like a thin ribbon
with a maximum length of 953 km east to west and
a maximum width of 234 km north to south. The
annual utilisable quantity of water of Narmada at
Navagam, in Gujarat, was estimated to be 34.537
million cubic metre (MCM) at 75 dependability by
NWDT. On full development, the Narmada has a
potential of irrigating over 6 million ha (15
million acres) of land along with a capacity to
generate about 3,000 Mega Watt of hydro electric
power. www.nvda.nic.in/ Official website Narmada
Valley Deveopment Authority
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The controversy over large dams on the River
Narmada has come to symbolise the struggle for a
just and equitable society in India. In brief,
the Government's plan is to build 30 large, 135
medium and 3000 small dams to harness the waters
of the Narmada and its tributaries. Opponents of
the dam believe that the cost-benefit analysis is
grossly inflated in favour of building the dams.
It is well established that the plans rest on
untrue and unfounded assumptions of hydrology and
seismicity of the area and the construction is
causing large scale abuse of human rights and
displacement of many poor and underprivileged
communities. They also believe that water and
energy can be provided to the people through
alternative technologies and planning processes
which can be socially just and economically and
environmentally sustainable. www.narmada.org/
Friends of the River Narmada
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Initial Budget(1986-87)Rs 6,400 cr Expenditure
so far Rs 14,000 cr Projected Total cost Rs
24,000 cr Cost of main canal Rs 4,000 cr Villages
submerged 14 Families displaced
4,600 Irrigation for 1.91 million hectares
Drinking water for 8,200 villages, 135 towns
Diversion canal into arid Gujurat Not just a dam!
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Social Effects Good
Till last September, I was so worried I would
lose my crop when there was no sign of a last
spell of rain, says Bijalbhai. Since my
village is barely 30 km from the dam site, it
seemed I had been hearing of the Narmada waters
forever. But when the branch canal finally
brought the waters here, I realised it was a
miracle. My crop got a new lease of life.
increasing his cotton yield from 250 kg to 700
kg Farmers gain Better Standard of Living
India is a major global cotton producer. Organic
v. pesticides / fertilisers
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Improved Quality of Life
Old House
New house
New water facility
Rehabilitation and resettlement of Displaced
Peoples - In New Jalud village infrastructure
like School, Dispensary, Seed-Storage, - Roads,
Drainage, Electrification and Water Supply is
complete.
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• Project would meet the drinking water needs of
  8215 villages and 135 urban centres which are
  today suffering from acute shortage of water.

Sardar Sarovar dam
Clean water Reduced infant mortality
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Social Effects - Bad
Communities displaced up to 100,000 people
A grim situation awaits more than 1500 families
in Maharashtra and 12000 families in Madhya
Pradesh who face submergence this monsoon due to
the rise in the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam
to 100 meters in May of this year," the groups
say.
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Residents of Pendriapada (Guj) look on their
destroyed homes and fields
Stagnant water increased. More mosquitoes
breeding Increased levels of malaria
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A huge percentage of the displaced are tribal
people (57.6 per cent in the case of the Sardar
Sarovar Dam). Include Dalits and the figure
becomes obscene. If you consider that tribal
people account for only eight per cent, and
Dalits 15 per cent, of India's population, it
opens up a whole other dimension to the story.
Tribal momadic people displaced for settled
irrigated cash crop growers
Narmada Main Canal
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Civil Unrest if water management system fails

With incessant rains in Gujarat water logging is
threatening the standing crops
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Environmental Good Points
Low rainfall, unreliable monsoon, long dry season
Difficulties overcome by irigation
The fourth year of searing drought in South Asia
is taking a heavy toll dead livestock are
scattered across a desiccated, dusty landscape,
wells have run dry and thousands of people are
wandering from their homes in search of food and
water..
Drought affected villagers in eastern
Gujurat,India, construct a 'check dam' to collect
the monsoon rains that they hope will arrive.
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Create new ecosystems e.g . in reservoirs. Can be
used economically.
Large water bodies shall be created as a result
of various dams being constructed on the river
Narmada its tributaries.
The reservoirs would, therefore, offer tremendous
opportunities for fisheries development which
would ultimately benefit the fishermen socially
and economically in the respective areas.
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Environment bad points
Good land and vegetation flooded and destroyed
Drowning tree
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Reservoirs may silt up quickly
Recent reports show that larger dam reservoirs
are silting up at rates far higher than assumed
when the projects were built, that the life span
of major Indian dams is likely to be only
two-thirds of their projected life.
Thick silt deposits left by the receding monsoon
waters at Domikhedi, Maharashtra. The near
stagnant waters of the SSP reservoir allow silt
to settle out, before this dries it creates a
dangerous and impassable layer of mud
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Soils may become saline in desert areas i.e.
new farming not sustainable
Of the total area to be irrigated by Sardar
Sarovar, only some 40 percent is classified as
"suitable" and "very suitable" for irrigation. As
to the remaining 60 percent, there are more or
less severe problems related to high salt content
in the soil or in the groundwater.
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Economic Good Points
Irrigation pumps in a village to the Narmada
River allows cultivation of sugar cane, a water
intensive crop.
This production is much coveted by the
politically powerful farmers in Gujarat where
water is scarce who will benefit from the
construction of the SSP dam.
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The estimates come with an upward revision,
largely on the strength of the Narmada water
released through the Integrated By-Pass Tunnel
(IBPT) into the main canal system irrigating some
2.50 lakh hectares. Gujarat decided against
declaring itself drought hit, despite the late
arrival and early withdrawal of monsoon this
year. This, despite 2,747 villages being
individually declared drought hit.
Produce higher value products reliably e.g. cash
crops of cotton or tomatoes Even if there is a
drought in the region
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Sardar Sarovar dam At what price progress?
If the half-built dam is not finished all the
money spent on it so far will have been
wastedFor the last three years the people who
live on the banks of the Narmada river in India
have managed to halt the construction of a dam
that threatens to destroy their way of life.
Good for the economy HEP electricity
created Creates an industrial boom e.g. textile
factories processing the cotton grown by
irrigation
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Economic Bad Points
Bargi dam, Madhya Pradesh. The first major dam to
be completed on the Narmada River. It displaced
100,000 people however, since money ran out
before the irrigation canals were built only 5
of the planned land has benefited from irrigation
(about as much land as the reservoir has taken).
The large dam produces 105MW of electricity, a
pitiful amount.
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Generators blocked with silt Reservoirs silt
up Production increase not as great as
predictions. Pushed through against massive
public opposition
The rich gain And the poor lose out? Could the
money be better spent?
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Project began in 1979 3,200 dams to be built
along 1,200km Narmada river Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan likely to
benefit Opponents says it will displace 200,000
people and damage ecology World Bank withdrew in
1993 To be fully complete by 2025
Narmada A history of controversy
Farmland will be submerged. Poor lose out