No external contractors on Sardar Sarovar reservoir: Displaced fishermen warn of protests

By A Representative 

Hundreds of representatives of fishermen displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Project met Fisheries Department officials in Barwani on August 12, held detailed discussions on their problems and rights, and submitted a memorandum of demands. The delegation, led by the proposed Narmada Mata Matsya Utpadan Evam Vipanan Sangh, comprised representatives of various fishermen cooperative societies from Barwani, Dhar and Alirajpur districts.

The fishermen made it clear that external contractors should not be given fishing rights in the Sardar Sarovar reservoir. They asserted that the rights of fish production and marketing in the reservoir must go to the local fishermen community and their cooperative societies. Representatives said the fishermen community has borne the heaviest impact of displacement due to the project, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure their rehabilitation and livelihood rights.

They demanded that all rights and benefits due to them under the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal (Narmada Tribunal) award be fully ensured. Despite being project-affected, Madhya Pradesh fishermen cannot be denied their rightful entitlements and facilities, they said.

Pointing to the facilities provided to Sardar Sarovar-displaced fishermen in Maharashtra — including pickup vehicles, boats, nets and other support — the representatives demanded identical benefits for affected and displaced fishermen of Madhya Pradesh. They urged the government not to discriminate between fishermen of the two states in matters of rehabilitation and livelihood. Regular training for the boards of directors and members of every cooperative society on modern fish production, conservation, marketing, reservoir management and cooperative functioning was also sought so that societies can function more effectively and fishermen receive fair returns for their labour.

Further demands included allocation of suitable space for weighing centres for all societies and construction of an organised fish market in the area. Fishermen said the present lack of proper weighing and marketing arrangements forces them to depend on middlemen, reducing their income. They also called for an immediate halt to illegal and destructive fishing practices, including the alleged use of bombs and electric current, which harm fish stocks, biodiversity and their livelihood. Effective monitoring and strict action against offenders were demanded.

Fisheries Department officials listened to the issues seriously and assured that the points raised would be taken to higher levels and necessary cooperation extended for their resolution. Among those present were fishermen community representatives Shyama Bharat, Ashok Shardiya, Anil Verma, Manish Majhi, Sunita Machhua, Deepak Verma and others from the three districts.

Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar also attended the discussion. She strongly raised the fishermen’s rights and livelihood concerns before the officials, stressing that the affected community must be provided its due rights and means of livelihood, and that the government should not discriminate between project-affected fishermen of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh in the facilities given.

Fishermen representative Jitendra Majhi said the Madhya Pradesh government should not discriminate against the state’s fishermen. “The livelihood of fishermen affected by the Sardar Sarovar reservoir is directly linked to the reservoir and its fishery resources. Therefore, the first right over these resources must be ensured keeping in view the interests of the local fishermen community and their cooperative societies,” he said. He warned that any attempt to award fishing contracts to external contractors would be opposed by the community. The fishermen demanded that instead of the contract system, local fishermen be given opportunities for fish production and marketing through cooperative societies so that the livelihoods of project-affected families remain secure.

The community has urged the government to take prompt and concrete decisions on all demands and implement their rights in accordance with the Narmada Tribunal award.