Civil rights group calls for urgent action to prevent flooding in Narmada valley

By A Representative 

The civil rights group, Friends of the Earth India (FoEI), has urged both the Government of India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Gujarat Government, which manages the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd, to take immediate and effective action to prevent a potential disaster in the Narmada Valley. 

The organization, in a statement signed by senior activists C Nicholas, Prafulla Samantara and Krishnakant Chauhan, demanded the urgent opening of additional gates at the Sardar Sarovar Dam to lower water levels below 135 meters and protect thousands of families from imminent submergence and destruction of their homes and property. 

The Narmada Control Authority must act swiftly to reduce the dangerously high water levels in the reservoir to safeguard both human lives and the property of villagers situated upstream of the dam, it said, adding, the situation in the Narmada Valley has escalated into a grave crisis, exacerbated by heavy rains in upstream areas—forecasts that were accurately predicted. 

According to FoEI, despite significant water being released from upstream reservoirs like Indira Sagar and Onkareswar, the Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) has opened only a limited number of gates, causing a critical imbalance between inflow and outflow. On the night of September 14, inflow reached over 438,800 cusecs, while outflow was merely around 348,600 cusecs, resulting in water levels shooting past 136.6 meters. 

Many families, previously labeled as "not affected," are now facing flooding due to manipulated Back Water Level (BWL) markings, which underestimated actual conditions. Homes, schools, and farms are becoming submerged, despite being marked above the maximum BWL, it underlined, pointing out, this contradicts Supreme Court and Narmada Tribunal orders that stipulate involuntary displacement can only occur six months post adequate compensation and rehabilitation. 

Approximately 15,946 families have been wrongfully excluded from rehabilitation and compensation processes, labeled "non-affected" despite the dire circumstances they face today, FoEI revealed. 

This situation mirrors the catastrophic flooding witnessed in 2023, where the Prime Minister celebrated his birthday on September 17 as the SSD reservoir was filled to nearly 139 meters, leading to devastating impacts on numerous villages that still bear the scars of that disaster, it added.

Moreover, FoEI noted, assertions that large dams like the SSD are vital for irrigation and renewable energy are increasingly being questioned. Research indicates that such large reservoirs can emit significant amounts of methane—a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide—resulting from the anaerobic breakdown of trapped biomass in warm climates. 

Additionally, it said, the initial promises of extensive irrigation have largely failed to materialize, highlighting the viability of sustainable alternatives like community-centric solar and wind energy, as well as improved local water management strategies. 

According to FoEI, concerns are rising not only for the homes of thousands but also for the health and safety of protesters, including Medha Patkar, leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. Following a "Jal Satyagraha" on September 14-15, in which they stood in waist-deep water for over 36 hours, the physical toll is evident with protesters showing signs of distress. 

Insisting that engaging in dialogue with representatives of those affected is crucial, it underscored the need for urgent action from the authorities to immediately open additional gates at the SSD to lower water levels below 135 meters and provide compensation for losses incurred in 2023, ensuring full rehabilitation as mandated by law.