Narmada Bachao Andolan or Publicity Kamao Andolan?

I agree that building of Sardar Sarovar on Narmada River affected many people. But governments already resettle many people and try to resettle remaining. Because of Narmada Bachao Andolan and court case, work of Sardar Sarovar stretched too much and still not completed otherwise it could completed may be 15-20 years ago.

People who are opposing the Sardar Sarovar need to come down the remote region like Saurashtra (west part of Gujarat) and need to see the situation privilege there. Sardar Sarovar not planned either for farmers who are Lakhpati and want to become Crorepati or for facilitate industries and industrialists in Gujarat and Other states. It was planned for fulfil basic necessity of water of remote and dry part of Gujarat as well of other states. Till today, in Saurashtra region farmers are totally depends on rain. In major rural part of this region, women are walking 10 – 15 Kilometres for two buckets of waters especially in summer. In towns local authorities (Nagar Palika & Municipality) still not able to provide water once in two days (It is also for one hour with low force) and in summer once in week time. All these because of very low rain and non-existence of other options. There are other options available like wells but if rain is not enough than what is visibility of that option. Wells are generally dried in summer season or water gone down at record level. I remember some year back because of insufficient rain, for city like Rajkot (Population more than 1 million), water was transport via train from other city. Most of Dams are become dry before summer. Dams can be expanded for collection and storage of more water but if rain is not much and demand continuously increases (Because of population) than at what level they can go. Every year water level in soil are going down and down in this region because of more and more use of ground water. People are waiting from ages for solution (possible by Sardar Sarovar). After waiting so much and not getting result, Since some years movement for building of check dams (Small dams) are kicked off here. It is not about for one region, same situation privileges in Rajasthan and M.P. also.

About three decades passed since building of Sardar Sarovar started. What is result? Billions of Rupees invested (or say dumped) though still people not getting any clear benefit from that. Without building Sardar Sarovar at it’s planned height these type of remote regions will not get any benefit from this project. But who want to listen?

Narmada Bachao Andolan used for prevention/pause the building of grand project so states and country will not get important resources and will not grow otherwise it can be. Many politicians and even foreign government used Narmada Bachao Andolankaris as pawn for playing political games and for preventing country’s growth. These Andolankaris also ready to become hand tools because it offers cheap publicity. If these Andolankaris really cares about people then they had never try to stop building of Sardar Sarovar.