Jalsatyagrah ends after Govt of India, NCA officials 'promise' not to raise Narmada dam water level

By Devisingh Tomar, others*

The recent Narmada Jalsatyagrah, a protest lasting more than 36 hours, was concluded with a commitment from participants to continue their fight against injustice unless the given assurances are honored. This intense demonstration involved numerous representatives from the Sardar Sarovar-affected communities, including prominent figures such as Medha Patkar, Kamla Yadav, Kesar Somare, Bhagwan Septa, Sushila Nath, and Kailash Yadav.

The protest was lifted following commitments made by the Executive Member of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) and the Principal Secretary of Jalshakti Mantralaya, Government of India, during a meeting at 9 PM, attended by hundreds of villagers from the Narmada Valley, local MLA Rajendra Mandloi, and Badwani Tehsildar.

Authorities agreed to engage in dialogue regarding pressing issues such as resettlement and rehabilitation before any planned submergence, particularly in light of the destruction experienced in 2023, which included the loss of homes, farmland, possessions, and the lives of 1200 cattle and six individuals.

The Narmada valley residents remain vigilant about the potential for illegal and unjust submergence impacting thousands of families across Madhya Pradesh, hundreds in Maharashtra, and many more downstream of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat. This concern stems from the disastrous events of the 2023 monsoon, which were viewed not merely as a natural disaster but as a failure of state authorities to effectively manage reservoir operations from Bergi to Sardar Sarovar.

As September 17 birthday of PM Modi approached, people feared it might mark another anniversary of devastation

The situation was exacerbated by unscientific and unauthorized changes to the backwater levels of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP), which incorrectly categorized 15,946 families as unaffected. The protesters called for immediate action to keep the gates of the Sardar Sarovar open and allow for a higher outflow of up to 5.5 lakh cusecs to protect river habitats and safeguard the livelihoods of Adivasi, Dalit, and other nature-based communities.

As the September 17 birthday of Prime Minister Modi approached, the community feared it might mark another anniversary of loss and devastation for local farmers, laborers, fishworkers, cattle grazers, artisans, boatsmen, traders, and others in the Narmada Valley who have yet to receive complete and equitable rehabilitation. The protesters, having engaged in a 39-year struggle and reconstruction effort that has seen the rehabilitation of approximately 50,000 families, vowed to continue their mass mobilization and legal actions if necessary.

Their commitment to uphold constitutional and human rights, as well as to advocate for sustainable, just development, is steadfast, particularly in the face of climate change and its severe impacts. The Narmada Bachao Andolan expressed gratitude to supporters across India and expects their ongoing backing until the very last affected individual receives just rehabilitation from the Sardar Sarovar project.

---

*Gourishankar Kumawat, Latika Rajput, Shyama Machuaara, Dhanraj Bhilala, Narmada Bachao Andolan

Comments

Designing the edge, erasing the river: Sabarmati Riverfront and the dissonance between ecology and planning

By Mansee Bal Bhargava, Parth Patel Across India, old black-and-white images of the Sabarmati River are often juxtaposed with vibrant photos of the modern Sabarmati Riverfront. This visual contrast is frequently showcased as a model of development, with the Sabarmati Riverfront serving as a blueprint for over a hundred proposed riverfront projects nationwide. These images are used to forge an implicit public consensus on a singular idea of development—shifting from a messy, evolving relationship between land and water to a rigid, one-time design intervention. The notion of regulating the unregulated has been deeply embedded into public consciousness—especially among city makers, planners, and designers. Urban rivers across India are undergoing a dramatic transformation, not only in terms of their land-water composition but in the very way we understand and define them. Here, we focus on one critical aspect of that transformation: the river’s edge.

Relevance of historical foot marches like Dandi and Salt march in achieving developmental goals in India

By Bharat Dogra India has a great tradition of organizing foot marches, including some which become historically very important, the most obvious example being the Dandi Salt March under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi which is a very important chapter in the freedom movement of India.

FSSAI defies Supreme Court order on food warning labels, citing 'trade secrets' for withholding vital information

By A Representative India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is facing strong criticism for deliberately delaying the implementation of crucial warning labels on High Fat, Sugar, and Salt (HFSS) food products. This comes despite a clear Supreme Court order on April 9, 2025, which mandated the completion of the "entire exercise" within three months. Adding to the controversy, the FSSAI is reportedly hiding expert reports and over 14,000 public comments under the pretext of "trade secrets."

Ecological alarm over pumped storage projects in Western Ghats: Policy analyst writes to PM

By A Representative In a detailed letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, energy and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has raised grave concerns over the escalating approval and construction of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) across India’s ecologically fragile river valleys. He has warned that these projects, if pursued unchecked, could result in irreparable damage to the country’s riverine ecology, biodiversity hotspots, and forest wealth—particularly in the Western Ghats.

Bridge collapse near Vadodara fuels demand for urgent repairs in Amreli

By A Representative The tragic collapse of a bridge near Vadodara, which claimed more than 10 lives, has intensified calls from social workers for immediate repairs to a dilapidated and dangerous bridge on the Amreli-Rajkot highway in Amreli district.

Civil rights coalition condemns alleged abduction of activist Samrat Singh by Delhi police

By A Representative The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of civil and democratic rights organisations, has strongly condemned what it describes as the illegal abduction of psychologist and social activist Samrat Singh by a team of Delhi Police officials. The incident occurred on the evening of July 12, 2025, at Singh’s residence in Yamunanagar, Haryana.

Radhika’s killing and the illusion of progress: A grim reminder of our communal codes

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* A young woman, a national-level athlete, was allegedly murdered by her father in Gurugram—initially portrayed as a case of wounded pride, mocked by locals for relying on his daughter's earnings. Yet deeper facts reveal a disturbing contradiction: this father lived comfortably, owning and renting out multiple houses in a posh locality. If he could invest in her education and coaching, why resent her success?

High tree mortality rates in plantation drives: Can deforestation be prevented through CAMPA?

By Raj Kumar Sinha* Our policies—especially those related to forests—are based on the assumption that we can regenerate natural resources after consumption. The Compensatory Afforestation Programme Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) reflects this idea. But can we truly restore lush green forests after clearing millions of acres? What has CAMPA actually achieved so far?

Primary sources of the underground Naxalite movement (1965–71): An analytical compilation

By Harsh Thakor* Voices from the Underground: Select Naxalite Documents (1965–71) is a compilation of documents and writings related to the Naxalite movement, spanning the period between 1965 and 1992. The collection includes materials not widely available through mainstream publishers and often considered controversial by the state. It is divided into two sections and contains eighteen documents authored by individuals associated with the movement.

Search This Blog