Delayed release of surplus water from Sardar Sarovar Project causes involuntary displacement of people, without prior rehabilitation violating Article 21 of the Constitution- Appeal for timely release of water
To
Shri Raj Kumar
Chief SecretaryGovt of Gujarat
DearShri Raj Kumar,
Kindly refer to my letter of 14th August 2024 on the subject appealing to the Sardar Sarovar Project authorities to release surplus water on time in order to avoid involuntary displacement of people due to submergence, causing loss of property and human trauma (https://countercurrents.org/2024/08/sardar-sarovar-flood-level-increase-threatens-submergence-of-many-villages/)
Following heavy rainfall upstream of Sardar Sarovar Dam, I understand that upstream projects like Indira Sagar/ Omkareshwar Dams are releasing over 438,800 cusecs of water, whereas Sardar Sarovar project authorities, for reasons best known to them, are releasing only 348,600 cusecs, causing the water level there rapidly increasing to levels exceeding 136.6 meters. As a result, thousands of families, houses, schools, places of worship, clinics, farms are reported to be facing the threat of submergence without officials warning them in time, as they were erroneously declared “not-affected”, by showing the Back Water Level (BWL) markings lower than the actual. It has been reported that almost 16,000 families that are facing submergence, are yet to be compensated and rehabilitated (https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/gujarat-activists-urge-authorities-to-release-excess-water-as-thousands-face-submergence-by-sardar-sarovar-dam)
Involuntary displacement of people without prior rehabilitationand and the consequent human trauma, violates the spirit of Article 21 of the Constitution. The apex court has time and again emphasised that people should not be displaced unless those likely to be affected are duly compensated and rehabilitated at least six months prior to such displacement.
Against the above background, I would appeal to you to ensure that Sardar Sarovar project authorities, without being influenced by extraneous considerations, release water on time so as to comply with the principles of natural justice and with the norm stipulated by the apex court in specific relation to rehabilitation preceding likely submergence and displacement.
Instead of reacting to such situations in an ad hoc manner, the authorities should also try to adopt protocols that ensure compliance with the apex court’s norms on a longer term basis.
Yours sincerely,
E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to the Government of India
Visakhapatnam
