Multipurpose River Valley Projects and alternate water supply methods

Role of multipurpose river valley projects (Included Map)
 Evaluation of positive and negative aspects of river valley projects
 Case study on one river valley and one local area conservation project(Include Map)
 Narmada Bachao Andolan
 Tehri Dam Andolan
The case study includes the following:-
 Rehabilitation of the displaced population
 Environment Impact Assessment

1. By-Tanishka Gupta
Grade-9th
By-Tanishka Gupta
Grade-9th

2. A multipurpose project is that which simultaneously
serves several purposes. A dam built across a river
often serves more than one purpose at a time and
is termed as a multipurpose project. Flood control,
irrigation, hydroelectric generation, navigation,
fishing and tourism etc are some of the chef aims of
multipurpose project.
Multipurpose river valley projects are basically
designed for the development of irrigation for
agriculture and electricity through the construction
of dams. Initially, dams were built only for storing
rain water to prevent flooding but now it became
multipurpose.
Multipurpose river valley projectsrefers to the
building of large dams for generating hydro-
electricity and for supllying water for irrigation,
industrial and domestic purposes.

3. Multipurpose river valley projects reduce the threat of seasonal
floods and bolster local economies.
The projects aim to integrate agricultural development with the
local economy through rapid industrialization and growth. The
goals include soil conservation, flood control and the development
of the area’s industries, transportation and irrigation facilities.
Multipurpose river valley projects revolve around developing
irrigation for agriculture and electricity for industries through the
construction of dams. In addition to impounding river water, the
dams provide water for irrigation to towns, improve navigation,
create habitats for fish and wildlife and generate hydroelectric
power for industrial purposes.

4. 4

5. Alternative wateriswater suppliedby
sustainablesourcesthat can be used to help offset
the use of fresh surfacewaterand groundwater
(such as lakes and aquifers).
Examples of alternative water sources include:
Harvested rainwater from roofs
Harvested stormwater
Reclaimed wastewater
Graywater
Captured condensate
Additional alternative water sources
Atmospheric water generation
Discharged water from water purification processes
Foundation water
Blowdown water
Desalinated water.

6. 1.. Irrigation Facility:
These projects can stimulate the agricultural productivity for
meeting the growing requirement of food and raw materials
required for increasing non-farm activities.
2. Flood Control:
Another important objective of such projects is to control the
occurrence of floods creating havocs on the economy.
3. Generating Electricity:
Multi-purpose projects help to generate hydro-electricity on a
large scale basis.
4. Navigation:
Such projects can create navigation facility in the country by
developing ferrying services for transportation, thereby can
reduce the traffic load on rail and road transport.
5. Drinking Water:
Such projects facilitate the development of safe drinking water
projects for the adjoining areas.
6. Development of Industry and Employment Generation:
Such projects can create a favourable climate for the
development of industry by offering the facilities like cheaper
power, better water transport, availability of raw materials at
cheaper rates for agro-based industries etc.
1. Exaggerated Benefits on Irrigation:
It has been argued that irrigation benefits derived out of multi-
purpose projects are exaggerated because the actual area irrigated
by these projects is much less due to delay in the construction of
field channels and water routes.
2. Higher Cost of Hydropower:
Although hydro power is having the advantage of low operating
cost, renewable source and eco-friendly but at the same time it is
also subjected to long gestation period, delay in commissioning the
project resulting escalation of project cost and higher initial cost.
3.Least Flood Control Benefit:
The multi-purpose projects have also failed to derive maximum
benefit in respect of flood control as the embankments, drainage
channels and flood protection schemes have failed .
4.Adverse Environmental Impact:
The multi-purpose projects have resulted serious adverse
environmental impact in respect of degradation of soil content
arising out of waterlogging and soil salinity in its command areas.
5.The danger of failure
Any cracks in the walls, if unattended, can lead to catastrophic
consequences and inundate hundreds of villages and towns several
kilometres far from the reservoir. This can potentially be disastrous
for several districts.
Merits Demerits

7. 7
The Narmada is India’s largest westward-flowing river and is of immense religious and cultural importance to the
people living on its banks. It is also the subject of the largest river development project in the world, the Narmada
Valley Project, which envisages the construction of thirty large and hundreds of small dams along its length.
Overview:
Narmada Bachao Andolan(NBA) is an Indiansocial movementspearheaded by native tribals
,farmers,environmentalistsandhuman rightsactivistsagainst a number of large dam projects across
theNarmada River, which flows through the states ofGujarat,Madhya PradeshandMaharashtra.Sardar
Sarovar Damin Gujarat is one of the biggest dams on the river and was one of the first focal points of the
movement. It is part of the Narmada Dam Project, whose main aim is to provide irrigation and electricity to people
of the above states.
The mode of campaign under NBA includes court actions,hunger strikes, rallies and gathering support from
notable film and art personalities. The NBA, with its leading spokespersonsMedha PatkarandBaba Amte,
received theRight Livelihood Awardin 1991.
Formation:
There were many groups such as Gujarat-based Narmada Asargrastha Samiti, Madhya Pradesh-based Narmada
Ghati Nav Nirman Samiti (Committee for a New Life in the Narmada Valley) and Maharashtra-Based Narmada
Dharangrastha Samiti (Committee for Narmada Dam-Affected People) who either believed in the need for fair
rehabilitation plans for the people or who vehemently opposed dam construction despite a resettlement policy.
[18]
Narmada Bachao Andolan was also joined by several NGOs with local people, professionals, and activists as the
founders with a non-violent approach.
]
It was led by Medha Patkar. Nationally, they wanted an alternative
structure of development and internationally, they wanted to build pressure on the World Bank to take
accountability.

8. Role of the World Bank :
The World Bank began working on the Narmada Project after it got clearance
from the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal.The bank sent a team for the assessment of the project in economic and
technical terms. This team didn't focus on the social or environmental issues.What Jawaharlal Nehru thought of as
temples of the independent India, i.e. the dams, have already displaced 11 million Indians.
However, the Bank realised the harm that it had done by sanctioning the loan for the project and thus announced that the
new projects should "ensure that, after a reasonable transition period, the displaced people regain at least their previous
standard of living”Despite this, the relocation process was flawed. Several tribal people have been harmed by the project.
The Bank then adopted certain policies to ensure proper relocation of the tribal people and protect them from the forced
relocation.The Indian government, however, did not adopt these policies.
In 1985, irrespective of the harm done by the Sardar Sarovar project, the World bank sanctioned a loan to the state
governments for construction purposes.The Bank did ask for a proper resettlement design but also said, "The argument
in favour of the Sardar Sarovar Project is that the benefits are so large that they substantially outweigh the costs of the
immediate human and environmental disruption”.
Medha Patkar and other protesters testified on the Bank's role in Washington D.C in 1989. This led to a build-up of
pressure on the Bank to set an independent review to assess the situation at hand. A lot of support was withdrawn from
the project after this.
The Morse Commission was established to look into the construction of the dam, and the environmental cost and human
displacement in 1991.For the first time, a Bank commissioned panel had complete access to the documents to form a
report.The 357 pages' report mentioned the lack of any environmental assessment undertaken either by the Indian
Government or the World Bank.In an internal referendum held, the Bank very closely voted for the continuation of the
Narmada Dam Project.The Indian Government canceled the loan sanctioned by the World Bank on 31 March 1993.

9. Decision:
The court ruled for Andolan, effecting an immediate stoppage of work at the dam and directing the concerned states to complete the
rehabilitation and replacement process.
It deliberated on this issue further for several years and finally upheld the Tribunal Award and allowed the
construction to proceed, subject to conditions. The court introduced a mechanism to monitor the progress of resettlementpari
passuwith the raising height of the dam through the Grievance Redressal Authorities (GRA) in each party state.The decision
referred in this document, given in 2000 after 7 years of deliberations, has paved the way for completing the project to attain full
envisaged benefits. The court's final line of the order states, "Every endeavour shall be made to see that the project is completed as
expeditiously as possible” Subsequent to the verdict,
Press Information Bureau (PIB) featured an article:
"The Narmada Bachao Andolaan (NBA)has rendered a yeoman's service to the country by creating a high-level of awareness about
the environmental and rehabilitation and relief aspects of Sardar Sarovar and other projects on the Narmada. But, after the court
verdict it is incumbent on it to adopt a new role. Instead of 'damning the dam' any longer, it could assume the role of vigilantobserver
to see that the resettlement work is as humane and painless as possible and that the environmental aspects are taken due careof.
Medha Patkar continues to fight for proper rehabilitation of the displaced people in Madhya Pradesh as well as the reception of the
promised compensation by the Narmada Tribunal.
[
This movement has brought forth the different notions of development. The Indian
government has often argued that the cost of displacements are outweighed by the benefit derived from the Narmada Project, and
thus, justified its construction. NBA, on the other hand has argued no matter how large the benefits, the cost to the societycannot be
fulfilled.
Critics argue that dam's benefits include provision of drinking water, power generation and irrigation facilities. However, it is believed
that the campaign, led by the NBA activists, has held up the project's completion, and NBA supporters have attacked on local people
who accepted compensation for moving.Others have argued that the Narmada Dam protesters are little more than environmental
extremists, who usepseudoscientificagitpropto scuttle the development of the region and that the dam will provide agricultural
benefits to millions of poor in India.
[
There had also been instances of the NBA activists turning violent and attacking rehabilitation
officer fromNarmada Valley Development Authority(NVDA), which caused damage to the contractor's machinery.

10. White
Is the color of milk and
fresh snow, the color
produced by the
combination of all the
colors of the visible
spectrum.
You can also split your content
Black
Is the color of ebony and
of outer space. It has
been the symbolic color
of elegance, solemnity
and authority.
10

11. 11
Tehri Dam Andolan
In 1990, the Indian government and Tehri Hydro Power Corporation began planning to dam the
Bhagirati River at the Himalayan foothill town of Tehri in Uttar Pradesh. Plans indicated that it would be
the fourth largest dam in the world. Damming the river at this particular location would lead to flooding
of the town and the displacement of up to ten thousand of its residents. Scientists also protested the
construction of the dam because of its proximity to the central Himalayan Seismic Gap. According to
leading scientists, an earthquake from the gap could easily destroy the dam and kill up to 500,000
people. Furthermore, the Bhagirati is sacred in Himalayan culture, therefore damming the river would
be an affront to this sacredness.
In 1990, village campaigners organized as Tehri Bandh Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti filed an official
petition to India’s Environmental Appraisal Committee, which went to India’s Supreme Court. Attorney
Shri P.S. Poti appeared in court to argue that the dam’s catastrophic potential was far too great, and its
potential hydro-power too relatively small to justify construction. The case continued for the next ten
years.
Sundarlal Bahuguna of the Chipko Andolan movement (an environmental cause that literally translates
as “tree-hugging”; SeeIndians embrace trees (Chipko) to stop logging activity, 1971-1974) moved to
the edge of the river in a home that would be flooded by the dam. In 1995, He went on a forty-nine-day
hunger strike to rally protesters against the construction of the dam. He ended the strike only when
Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda promised to appoint a special committee to consider the potential
ecological consequences of the dam. However, the committee did not seem sufficient to Bahuguna, so
he travelled to Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and went on another fast, this time for seventy-
four days. Protests quieted down along with talk of the dam project for several years.

12. 12
In July 2000, the group Vishwu Hindu Parishad began a campaign to force the government to cease the
construction of the Tehri dam. The group’s president, Ashok Singhal, initially appealed to the local government to
deny Tehri Hydrpower Corporation the right to begin construction. When his request was rejected, he began
using the slogan “Ganga aviral bahati tahe”, which translates roughly as “Let the Ganga (river) flow unhindered
eternally”.
In December 2000, hundreds of locals joined peaceful demonstrations, or dharna, in the streets the Tehri
submergence area. They used traditional dharna methods of sitting outside the perpetrators doorway, or in this
case sitting outside the construction site, without moving or taking food. Some protesters stayed in for more than
a month. On 6 January 2001, police forcibly removed the protesters, beating hundreds and arresting twenty-four.
At this point, Sunderlal Bahuguna joined the new campaign and led another hunger strike, which began on 9
December 2000. Several local families also participated in the fast. They were specifically protesting not only the
dam, but also the government’s failure to provide compensation or rehabilitation to people scheduled to be
displaced by the dams construction. Several weeks after the fast began, on 23 December 2000, the Information
and Public Relations Department released advertisements in national newspapers following an announcement
that engineers would be closing pressure relief tunnels and progressing with construction of the dam. The ads
claimed that the project was actually a “new chapter in development”, stressing that the increased use of
hydropower was a step towards modernity.
The Tehri Hydropower Corporation scheduled the closure of the tunnels for March 2001, and demanded that
residents leave their homes before then so that flooding of the Tehri region could begin. In response, VHP
president Ashok Singhal threatened a fast.Meanwhile, in January 2001 in the nearby village of Bhagirathi, the
Matu campaign organized protests against the dam. There, protesters stopped the progress of two trucks
moving earth in order to continue work. They would not allow the trucks to continue down the road. In response,
police stormed the campaigners with batons in a lathi charge on the orders of the Deputy Superintendent of
Police and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Uttar Pradesh. Twenty-four protesters were arrested, including
eleven women. The beatings continued after the protests ceased, as police entered homes and beat more than a
hundred people, including several children.

13. 13
On 31 March 2001, activists protested the government’s failure to relocate people displaced by the dam
project. They began a sit-in at the main site of construction. They forced construction to halt for three
weeks. Before dawn on 22 April, after an announcement from the High Court that the project should
continue, police arrested fifty campaigners from the sit-in. Protesters were dispersed among several
different prisons. Two days later, they arrested Sagerlal Bahuguna, who began yet another hunger
strike while detained. After his condition began to deteriorate, the government declared a new
committee would be formed, and this time it would be comprised of representatives selected by both
the government and campaigners from a pool of government nominees.
In June 2001, locals in Tehri protested in the streets when corruption charges were brought up against
the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation for their attempts to delay the inspection of the Central
Bureau of Investigation.
On 4 August 2001, more than a hundred women went out into the forests outside Tehri, called Advaniin.
They protested in the woods, which were full of famous trees that were important in the Chipko-Andolan
movement of the 1970s. These trees were endangered by the dam project as they stood in grounds set
to be cleared for the construction of transmission lines by the Power Grid Corporation.
On 15 October 2001, the national forest department began distributing land titles that would allow
deforestation for the dam project. They licensed clearing on land that had been protecting since the
Chipko movement in the Haridwar forest. Locals protested this decision not in the forest, but in the
streets of the so-called submergence area in Tehri, which would soon be flooded by the reservoir.
In March 2002 the appointed committee declared that construction of the dam would be safe and should
continue. By 2004, Phase I of construction was complete and soon large sections of Tehri were
underwater. Sunderlal Bahuguna’s original home was submerged and he relocated to a new residence
higher up the river’s bank. Since that time several ecological disasters related to the dam devastated
Tehri.

14. A picture is worth a thousand
words
A complex idea can be
conveyed with just a single
still image, namely making
it possible to absorb large
amounts of data quickly.
14

15. 15
Thank-You