From wcsbeau@ccs.carleton.ca Tue Aug 23 18:41:32 1994 Received: from bud.sandelman.ocunix.on.ca by latour.sandelman.ocunix.on.ca with SMTP id AA11066 sender wcsbeau@ccs.carleton.ca (5.65a/IDA-1.4.2); Tue, 23 Aug 94 18:19:28 -0400 Received: from alfred.ccs.carleton.ca (alfred.ccs.carleton.ca [134.117.1.1]) by gateway.sandelman.ocunix.on.ca (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id SAA11358 for ; Tue, 23 Aug 1994 18:16:35 -0400 Received: from superior.ccs.carleton.ca.YP.nobel by alfred.ccs.carleton.ca (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA19928; Tue, 23 Aug 94 18:21:45 EDT Received: by superior.ccs.carleton.ca.YP.nobel (4.1/Sun-Client) id AA29802; Tue, 23 Aug 94 18:21:49 EDT Received: from nacho.cs.wisc.edu by alfred.ccs.carleton.ca (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA15901; Tue, 23 Aug 94 15:58:45 EDT Received: from mail.igc.apc.org by nacho.cs.wisc.edu; Tue, 23 Aug 94 14:12:16 -0500 Received: from igc.apc.org by mail.igc.apc.org with SMTP (8.6.9/Revision: 1.41 ) id MAA06750; Tue, 23 Aug 1994 12:11:59 -0700 Received: by igc.apc.org (8.6.9/Revision: 1.176 ) id MAA08236; Tue, 23 Aug 1994 12:09:54 -0700 Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1994 12:09:54 -0700 From: Patrick McCully Message-Id: <199408231909.MAA08236@igc.apc.org> To: 0005614754@mcimail.com, ae140@leo.nmc.edu, appa@vax.lse.ac.uk, budaraju@cae.wisc.edu, ecologist@inbb.gn.apc.org, jagdish@igc.apc.org, kamal@imsc.ernet.in, narmada@cs.wisc.edu, pchatterjee@igc.apc.org, ss@ce.ic.ac.uk, tamraz@husc.harvard.edu Subject: INDIA: NARMADA DAM CRITICS DEBATE A Sender: wcsbeau@ccs.carleton.ca Status: RO /* Written 4:14 PM Aug 22, 1994 by tgray in igc:env.dams */ /* ---------- "INDIA: NARMADA DAM CRITICS DEBATE A" ---------- */ /* Written 3:48 PM Aug 22, 1994 by newsdesk in igc:ips.english */ /* ---------- "INDIA: NARMADA DAM CRITICS DEBATE A" ---------- */ Copyright 1994 InterPress Service, all rights reserved. Worldwide distribution via the APC networks. *** 19-Aug-94 *** Title: INDIA: NARMADA DAM CRITICS DEBATE ALTERNATIVES AN INTER PRESS SERVICE FEATURE BY PRAFUL BIDWAI NEW DELHI, AUG 19 (IPS) - THE WORLD'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL AND FIERCELY CONTESTED IRRIGATION PROJECT ON THE NARMADA RIVER IS ONCE AGAIN UNDER CRITICAL SCRUTINY AS ITS OPPONENTS PROPOSE ALTERNATIVES AND INDIAN COURTS BEGIN HEARINGS ON REHABILITATION OF THE 200,000 PEOPLE LIABLE TO BE DISPLACED BY THE DAM. THE MAMMOTH, NINE BILLION DOLLAR MULTI-PURPOSE SCHEME HAS LONG BEEN A SOURCE OF EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE WORLD BANK AND A NUMBER OF FIRST WORLD GOVERNMENTS, WHICH HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK FROM GREEN GROUPS IN DONOR COUNTRIES AND INDIA FOR SUPPORTING AN ECOLOGICALLY UNSOUND, GIGANTIC DAM WITH DOUBTFUL BENEFITS. UNDER THEIR PRESSURE, THE WORLD BANK PULLED OUT FROM FUNDING THE SARDAR SAROVAR DAM LAST MARCH. THE PULLOUT HAS LEFT THE PROJECT IN DESPERATE NEED OF FUNDS, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WESTERN STATE OF GUJARAT, THE PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY OF THE PROJECT, IS RESORTING TO HIGH-COST BORROWINGS TO FINANCE THE DAM. THE DAM, FIRST OF NEARLY 3,000, BRISTLES WITH PROBLEMS: ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, HYDROLOGICAL, AND DISPLACEMENT OF ABOUT 100,000 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE IN INDIA. ITS CRITICS HAVE PROPOSED A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVE SCHEMES. AT LEAST TEN SUCH PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO A REVIEW GROUP APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING A PROLONGED PROTEST AND FAST UNDERTAKEN BY THE SAVE THE NARMADA CAMPAIGN OR NBA AND ITS BEST-KNOWN LEADER, MEDHA PATKAR, LAST YEAR. ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND EXPERTS ARE DISCUSSING THE ALTERNATIVES AT A TWO-DAY MEETING IN NEW DELHI WHICH STARTED ON FRIDAY. MEANWHILE, THE DAM'S OPPONENTS HAVE MOVED THE SUPREME COURT WITH PETITIONS FOR A HALT TO ALL CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THE CONDITIONS STIPULATED BY VARIOUS CENTRAL TRIBUNALS ARE COMPLIED WITH. NEARLY EVERY CONDITION FOR THE GRANTING OF PROVISIONAL CLEARANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN 1987 HAS BEEN VIOLATED. THE CRITICS HAVE RAISED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT SARDAR SAROVAR. THE MOST SERIOUS OF THESE ARGUE THAT IN ECONOMIC TERMS, THE NARMADA PROJECTS CANNOT DELIVER WHAT THEY PROMISE, THAT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS INADEQUATELY ASSESSED, OR ADVERSE, AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THAT THE HUMAN COST IS UNACCEPTABLY HIGH. THEIR ECONOMIC ARGUMENT IS THAT THE CAPITAL COSTS OF THE PROJECT (IN THE RANGE OF THREE DOLLARS TO 4,000 PER HECTARE) ARE ALREADY UNAFFORDABLE AND LIKELY TO ESCALATE. IF FARMERS WERE ASKED TO PAY THE ANNUALISED COST (DEPRECIATION, MAINTENANCE AND LOW INTEREST), THEIR ENTIRE EARNINGS WOULD BE ALL BUT WIPED OUT. TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, ALL AGRICULTURE WILL BECOME ECONOMICAL AT THESE COSTS, UNLESS IT IS HEAVILY -- AND UNCONSCIONABLY -- SUBSIDISED. THE PROJECT'S PRESUMED BENEFITS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN A SKEWED MANNER. THE ARID KUTCHCH REGION OF GUJARAT WILL RECEIVE LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL WATER. WATER-SCARCE SAURASHTRA AND NORTH GUJARAT WILL RECEIVE 22 AND 17 PERCENT. THE REST OF THE STATE, WHICH IS NOT WATER-SCARCE, WILL GET 59 PERCENT. THE PROJECT WILL SUBMERGE 37,000 HA OF LAND, OF WHICH 13,700 ARE FORESTS, A GOOD PROPORTION OF HIGH QUALITY. IT ALSO INVOLVES A BACKWATER PROBLEM, WATERLOGGING AND SALINITY, DESTRUCTION OF WILDLIFE, ADVERSE IMPACT ON FISHERIES, AND INCREASED HEALTH HAZARDS IN THE SHAPE OF MALARIA AND OTHER ILLNESSES. HOWEVER, THE HEAVIEST AND LEAST ACCEPTABLE COSTS ARE HUMAN. THE RESETTLEMENT OF 200,000 PEOPLE POSES SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS INDIA HAS EVER FACED. THE CRUELTY OF BREAKING UP AND RELOCATING WHOLE COMMUNITIES, WHICH HAVE A VERY SPECIAL, SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE, ITSELF CONSTITUTES A POWERFUL ARGUMENT AGAINST THE DAM. IT IS COMPOUNDED BY THE ABSENCE OF ALTERNATIVE LAND ACQUISITION, CONSULTATION WITH THE PROJECT-AFFECTED, MEAGRE COMPENSATION, AND COERCION AGAINST PEOPLE PROTESTING AGAINST SUBMERGENCE. SUCH DISPLACEMENT IS AVOIDABLE. IF THE HEIGHT OF THE DAM IS REDUCED FROM 455 FEET BY JUST 19 FEET, THE AREA OF OF SUBMERGENCE WOULD DECREASE BY 29 PER CENT, AND THE NUMBER OF PERSONS TO BE DISPLACED BY 26 PER CENT. IF THE HEIGHT IS REDUCED TO 300 FEET, THE NUMBER DISPLACED WOULD FALL BY AN EVEN HIGHER 70 PER CENT. NEITHER OF THESE COMPROMISES ON IRRIGATION BENEFITS FOR GUJARAT. AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE DRAWN UP SUCH PLANS ARE IRRIGATION ENGINEERS, ENERGY EXPERTS, HYDROLOGISTS, GEOLOGISTS, REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS, AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS. MANY OF THESE PLANS INVOLVE REDUCTION OF THE DAM HEIGHT AND HENCE SOME LOSS OF POWER OUTPUT, WHICH MADHYA PRADESH, GUJARAT'S NEIGHBOUR WHERE THE NARMADA ORIGINATES, HAS OFFERED TO MAKE UP. AMONG THE MOST INTERESTING OF THE PROPOSALS IS BY SUHAS PARANJAPE AND K.J. JOY. IT CALLS FOR A DIFFERENT MODE OF WATER STORAGE AND CONVEYANCE SO THAT THE HEIGHT OF THE DAM IS REDUCED TO 300 FEET, BUT THE AREA IT SERVICES INCREASES FROM 1.8 MILLION HA (MHA) TO 4.15 MHA, EVEN WHILE GUJARAT'S SHARE OF WATER REMAINS UNCHANGED. THE PLAN PROMOTES RATIONAL WATER USE, AND A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MODEL WHICH EMPHASISES LOCAL NEEDS AND RESOURCES FOR BALANCED, RAPID GROWTH. A VERY ATTRACTIVE FEATURE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT IT PUTS THE ISSUE OF EQUITY RIGHT AT THE CENTRE. UNDER THE PLAN, KUTCHCH WILL GET FIVE TIMES MORE WATER AND SAURASHTRA AND NORTH GUJARAT 32 AND 36 PER CENT OF TOTAL FLOWS. THE RESULTING, MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER ALSO TURNS OUT TO BE MORE ECONOMICAL. IN SOCIAL TERMS, THE PLAN IS VASTLY SUPERIOR. IT WILL REDUCE THE AREA OF SUBMERGENCE BY 70 PER CENT. THE AREA OF FORESTS TO BE SUBMERGED DECREASES SHARPLY FROM 13,700 TO 2,500 HA. MORE IMPORTANT, THE NUMBER OF VILLAGES TO BE SUBMERGED FALLS BY 80 PER CENT. THIS MEANS THAT THE UPROOTING AND BREAKING OF WHOLE COMMUNITIES WILL BE MINIMISED. THIS ALSO MAKES REHABILITATION CONSIDERABLY LESS DIFFICULT. IT IS RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND 10,000 HA OF CONTIGUOUS LAND. THIS PLAN IS INTEGRATED INTO A SCHEME FOR EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AND RATIONAL USE OF WATER. IT AIMS TO PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER TO PRODUCE 18 TONNES OF BIOMASS PER FAMILY TO MEET ITS NEEDS FOR FOOD, FUEL, FODDER AND CASH INCOME. PROVISION OF WATER TO MEET BASIC NEEDS IS MADE CONDITIONAL ON A THIRD OF THE LAND AREA BEING ALLOTTED TO AGRO-FORESTRY, AND ANOTHER THIRD TO FOODGRAINS. THE ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTS USING THE BIOMASS SURPLUS GENERATED TO PRODUCE ENERGY ON WHICH TO RUN A WHOLE RANGE OF PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RAISE PER CAPITA ENERGY OUTPUT AND CONSUMPTION IN THE NARMADA VALLEY TO THE SAME LEVEL AS PREVALENT IN PRE-WORLD WAR I EUROPE -- AND THAT TOO ON AN ECOLOGICALLY SOUND, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE BASIS. THE PROJECT AUTHORITIES HAVE YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH ALTERNATIVES ARE FEASIBLE. BUT THERE ARE GROWING PRESSURES ON THEM TO STOP DISMISSING AND BEGIN DISCUSSING THEM. (END/IPS/EN/PB/AN/94) Origin: New Delhi/INDIA/ ---- [c] 1994, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS) All rights reserved May not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or service outside of the APC networks, without specific permission from IPS. This limitation includes distribution via Usenet News, bulletin board systems, mailing lists, print media and broadcast. For more information, send a message to ips-info@igc.apc.org