Rediscovering Narmada Valley

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About the Book Narmada, the fifth longest river of Indian subcontinent, been the lifeline it’s since time Immemorial. river winds through four states India Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Pradesh. Post independence, Government of India proposed to build the Narmada the of providing drinking irrigation, power the increasing population. However, the Narmada has always remained conflict zone, be for disputes between the states water the raising concerns social activists environmentalists for the ecological degradation caused by projects, arresting issue displacement and rehabilitation. Narmada Valley been subject of discussion at international.

Rediscovering Narmada Valley the author's dexterous presentation of past and present-day Narmada Valley comprehensive, systematic, chronological The author has judiciously displayed account the inter-state disputes, the politics Narmada water, public opposition against Narmada Valley's large dam projects.

About the Author Adil Khan is a postgraduate in Science and has done his MBA in Media Management. The author is Senior Public Relations Executive in Narmada Valley Development Department in Madhya Pradesh. He has been associated with Narmada Valley issues for more than two decades.

During his long association as an officer of Narmada Valley Department, he has travelled extensively in the valley to enrich his knowledge and discover the facts related to Narmada and Narmada Valley.

Foreword Tarmada had been on the minds of visionaries of independent NIndia, who observed immense potential in this river. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first prime minister and home minister, respectively, of independent India, were pioneers of the plan to utilize Narmada's water for agricultural development.

With the passage of time, the idea of utilizing Narmada's water gained ground, but later on transformed in to a dispute over sharing the water among the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. When an amicable solution could not be reached. the then prime minister of India Mrs Indira Gandhi constituted the NWDT in 1969. The tribunal declared its final award after a decade long exercise. However, when the party states initiated action to follow the directions of the award, people started opposing the construction of big dams. The scattered opposition was then organized and effectively represented by the movement NBA. Meanwhile, the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra indulged in the politics of water by making political statements and counter statements.

Over a period of time, the construction of major irrigation projects was initiated, but faced enormous challenges of human displacement and resettlement. In one way or the other, the story is repeated still with the upcoming irrigation projects of the valley.

Preface The Narmada has been subject public political I discussion since dispute sharing water surfaced between Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. When these states not reach government India constituted Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal (NWDT) to adjudicate dispute. After decade-long exercise, its final award in December 1979, settling the contention over the sharing water other related issues.

After overcoming the problems, the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh initiated construction of dams, but met feverish pace public opposition. due course time, people's opposition big dams was streamlined defined by (NBA). This movement registered effective protests, rallies, and dharnas under leadership Medha Patkar. The opposition was based on plea reservoirs would engulf large areas of productive lands, displacing lakhs people. Moreover, the construction of large dams would the forest and the surroundings, leading loss of biodiversity. issues raised by the NBA were serious. Many NGOs the country across the world inclined to extend their support the cause. Thus, Narmada and the NBA became global extent.

While the construction dams on a very slow pace, the country started opening its doors the trends globalization. a new economic order started trickling both urban and rural areas.

**Contents and Sample Pages**