907 km from parliament

Here is a social drama with the most complex of plots.

Tryst with rain

In our January 15, 2000 issue, Down To Earth had highlighted the situation in drought-struck areas of Gujarat. The conclusion was that villages with structures to harvest rainwater were faring much better than villages which had forgotten the value of rain (see: 'Standing the test of drought', Vol 8, No 16). They had enough water to drink; some had enough for irrigation, too.

Ways of the Bank

The Morse committee has asked the World Bank to step back from the Sardar Sarovar project. Whether the bank complies or not, the committee has undoubtedly delivered a resounding indictment of all those involved in the project—from the governments of Gujarat and India to the mighty World Bank. There is no doubt that the Gujarat government has failed to inspire confidence in its ability or efforts to provide a fair deal to those likely to suffer because of the project.

Age of dissent

In what could set a precedent for forest rights struggles, six villages in Madhya Pradesh have stalled a government plan to notify their forest as wildlife sanctuary. Gram sabhas of these villages have passed resolutions against the proposed Katthiwada wildlife sanctuary in Alirajpur district. While the government is yet to come to a decision, forest officials say the project may never see the light of the day.

Why Polavaram is a pointless project

 400,000 MAY BE DISPLACED The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the project says 276 villages will be affected; an estimated 177,275 people live in these villages. The Polavaram Project Environmental Impact Appraisal Report of 1985 expected 150,697 people to be displaced in 226 villages.

SC orders land compensation

Families that lost 60 per cent or more land to canal construction for the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar dam projects in Khandwa and Khargone districts of Madhya Pradesh should be given cultivable land as compensation, the Supreme Court has ordered. In doing so, the court acknowledged the rights of families affected by canal construction as a category separate from those affected by dam reservoir submergence.

Dam's height restricted

Narmada authorities flouted environmental safeguards further increase in Sardar Sarovar Dam's height is not advisable, an expert committee of the Union environment ministry has said. The dam authorities want to raise the height of the dam from 122 metres now to 140 metres to increase the capacity of its reservoir. The expert committee advised the ministry against it saying the authorities did not comply with the prescribed environmental safeguards. The committee submitted its interim report on February 13, 2009.

Malwa is thirsty

Flood sans river

Saurashtra was flooded since rainwater could not drain THE state highway between Viramgam and Surendranagar towns in Gujarat presents a stark contrast. On one side is a carpet of green fields for miles, and on the other, decaying jowar and cotton crops, at places submerged in water. The 60 km highway itself remained under water for three days in mid-September.

Floods for nothing

six villages were flooded in Mehesana district of Gujarat after a 20-foot-wide breach appeared in the Narmada canal near Kadi on June 10. Three- to four-foot-deep water flooded the houses in these villages and the drinking water supply was badly hit. This was the third major breach in the canal in three consecutive years.