Narmada issue: Experts want efficient rehabilitation

Surat Apr 21: Experts feel that the basic issue in the Narmada controversy is the lack of proper management in rehabilitation of the people who lost their land and livelihood due to the Sardar Sarovar Dam project.

Director of Surat-based Centre for Social Studies Dr Biswaroop Das, who had conducted a number of studies on the Narmada project told UNI that the displacement of people is almost inevitable when a new development project takes place.

''Displacement is very much associated with any kind of developmental project whether it is roads, ports or dams,'' Mr Das said.

According to him, the importance of Narmada project is that it brought the issue of rehabilitation to the fore.

''When a group of people living in particular ecological and cultural environment is displaced to another, conflicts are bound to arise,'' Mr Das added.

A proper rehabilitation system takes these aspects into consideration, he added.

Hyderabad-based environment economist Dr Jyothis Satyapalan said the issue of those who had lost land in Narmada project can not be reduced to monetary terms only.

Utility value of land and natural resources are diferent to the rich and the poor, he said.

''The forest dwelling tribals gives much weightage to their land than those living in the urban areas,'' he added.

Another economist and assistant professor of CSS, Dr Arjun Patel said the experience like the construction of Ukkai dam in South Gujarat had shown that the tribals who had lost their land are still not properly rehabilitated.

''Our studies show that many tribals who had been displaced from such projects have become landless migrant labourers. The government needs to show much concern to the displaced people,'' Dr Patel added.

UNI

Related Stories