Project to link Tapi, Par, Narmada: Tribals in South Gujarat protest river-linking plan

What is the News?

Tribals in Gujarat have intensified their protest against the Par-Tapi-Narmada river linking project after it was mentioned in the budget speech (2022-23) of the Finance Minister.

What is the Par-Tapi-Narmada River Linking Project?

Par-Tapi-Narmada Link proposes to transfer water from the water-surplus regions of Western Ghats to the water-deficit regions of Saurashtra and Kutch through the Sardar Sarovar Project. 

The water is proposed to be taken from seven reservoirs through a 395-kilometre canal.

The seven reservoirs proposed in the project are Jheri, Mohankavchali, Paikhed, Chasmandva, Chikkar, Dabdar and Kelwan.

Of these seven reservoirs, only one (Jheri) is located in Maharashtra and the rest are in the Valsad and Dang districts of Gujarat.

What are the benefits of the Project?

The project will provide irrigation benefits to the enroute command and Narmada command. It will also generate hydropower through the powerhouses installed at four dam sites. The reservoirs will also provide flood relief to the people residing in downstream areas.

Why are Tribals opposing the Project?

Tribals settled along the river bank have developed the forest land allotted to them into agricultural farms by incurring the substantial expenditure. With the construction of the reservoirs, their farmland will be submerged, and they will lose their income. It will also result in their displacement.

Tapi River: Tapi is a river in central India located to the south of the Narmada river which flows westwards before draining into the Arabian Sea.The river flows through the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Par River: It is a river in Gujarat with its source near wadpada village in Nashik Maharashtra. It flows into the Arabian Sea.

Source: This post is based on the article “Project to link Tapi, Par, Narmada: Tribals in South Gujarat protest river-linking plan” published in Indian Express on 14th Mar 2022.