Question: Narmada Bachao Andolan
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), a prolonged social movement against
large dams on the Narmada River, began in the 1980s to address displacement and
environmental harm, becoming a symbol of resistance to unsustainable
development. Led by Medha Patkar, it challenged projects like Sardar Sarovar,
blending human rights with ecology. In conclusion, NBA's enduring campaign
influenced global anti-dam discourses, though partial submergences highlight
ongoing struggles for equitable progress.
Genesis and Objectives
Initiated in 1985 by Medha Patkar in
Maharashtra's Dhule district, NBA protested the Sardar Sarovar Dam, approved in
1979 by the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal, which planned 30 major dams
displacing 250,000 people across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
Objectives included fair rehabilitation, environmental assessments, and
alternatives to big dams.
Key Campaigns and Leaders
Patkar's 1989 formation of NBA unified
villagers, with Baba Amte joining in 1990 for rallies. Strategies featured jal
samadhi submergence protests in 1991 and hunger strikes, like Patkar's 21-day
fast in 1993. Arundhati Roy's 1999 essay "The Greater Common Good"
amplified international support.
Challenges and Legal Battles
Facing state repression, including
1994 arrests, NBA filed Supreme Court petitions in 1994, leading to a 2000
verdict allowing construction with rehabilitation. The World Bank withdrew
funding in 1993 after the 1992 Morse Commission report criticized impacts.
Achievements and Continuing Struggle
NBA secured better compensation for
some, influencing the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. However, the dam's 2017
inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi submerged villages, with ongoing
2019 protests demanding justice.
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