Of Dams And Defence: PM On The Move
Of Dams And Defence: PM On The Move
The NDA government started work full flow with clearances of long-delayed defence projects. This includes a huge navy base and scaling up the Narmada dam. While the former is a more than welcome move, the latter is staunchly being opposed by noted activist and social welfare leader Medha Patkar along with conservationists from across the country.
The green signal for the raising of the Narmada dam to 138 meters is not likely to make the PM popular among those campaigning against this on account of the massive dislocation of people that will result from the move. Despite social and environmental concerns, the government has charged ahead leaving the conservationists in deep waters.
The clearances were made over a period of days when major decisions about India's future kicked into gear. Asia's third-largest economy is now taking strides though the question is the direction it will take. Development has to be sustainable and balancing needs is also critical. If concrete plans for sheltering the people displaced are in plan, then raising the height of the dam is a win-win situation. But if it is not, conservationists will be raising a strong tide of protests against the move.
Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar has said that the government cannot compromise on military or civil infrastructure and this is a valid point. But, what is a point of contention is that the Narmada dam is guarding against water woes while leading to displacement of people and this means massive logistical headaches.
Government cannot compromise on welfare and yet at the same time it has to initiate development. While Patkar and other voices can speak up about the other side of the story, the government has also highlighted its compulsions. Border skirmishes with China necessitate the existence of solid defence infrastructure. Our chances of providing better amenities to our defence personnel also go up with these projects.
Road and defence projects are being fast-tracked and radar as well as telecommunications projects within 100 kms of the 4000 km border with China are on the automatic approval list. But when it comes to the Narmada dam, other issues are in play.
With El Nino taking rain away from the farmers and providing massive power and irrigation water shortages, the case of raising the Narmada dam is like Hobson's choice. You are caught between 2 equally thorny issues. On the one hand, about 250,000 people will be displaced while on the other, massive amounts of people are facing acute water shortage and loss of livelihood.
Water crises is inextricably tied to abuse of the earth's natural resources and the birth of global warming and climate change. The cycle has begun and unless sustainable development counters it, the cycle will continue. If the government and social welfare leaders want to avoid such a situation from arising, the emphasis should be on reversing climate change. Then, El Nino can remain just a weather phenomenon of the past and not the future.
