Save Narmada Movement : 

Narmada river is one of the largest westward flowing rivers of India. It covers 94500 km between the ranges of Vindhyas and Satpuras, and it has a length about 1450 km. In the beginning of the 8th decade of the 20th century, under the development project in the Narmada Valley, located in the middle part of India, 30 big, 135 medium and 300 small dams were proposed on river Narmada and its tributaries. The river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. 

The main points related to the piroject and Save Narmada Movement are as follows :

I. There are two mega dams Sardar Sarover Dam (Gujarat) and Narmada Sagar Dam (Madhya Pradesh). Narmada movement was launched to save river Narmada. This movement opposed construction of dams. Along with the construction of these dams, save Narmada Movement has been questioning the need of the developmental projects going on in the country.

II. Under Sardar Sarover project, a multi-purpose mega dam is proposed. Supporters of the dam argue that including a large part of Gujarat, three neighbouring states will be provided drinking water, irrigation and electricity generation facilities. And agriculture produce will increase. The dam will be useful in controlling natural calamities also like flood and drought.

III. The reservoir would submerge 245 villages of the concerned states. It would render about 2.5 lakh people homeless. Therefore local workers first of all raised the issue Of rehabilitation of 2.5 lakh people of the affected villages. These activities converted into a movement during 1988-89 when many local volunteer organisations organised themselves as Save Narmada Movement, 

IV. This movement has been questioning the development model and its public justification. 

V. By the end of the 9th decade, several local groups and movements became the part of ‘Save Narmada Movement’.

Critical evaluation of Save Narmada Movement : 

The movement continued for more than two decades. The movement, as far as possible, followed democratic strategy to raise their demands strongly. The movement raised its voice through different mediums, from judiciary to international platforms. 

The critical evaluation of this movement can be done on the basis of the following points:

1. Construction of dams adversely»affect the natural resources such as-rivers, environment etc. 

2. Critics have been demanding that the analysis of the expenses done on all the development.projects conducted so far, should be done. And while analysing the cost, it should also be evaluated that what losses the people of various sections of society had to bear due to these development projects. 

3. Attention was also drawn to the fact that these projects have had adverse effect on people’s habitation, livelihood, culture and environment. 

4. The activists of the movement had to face stark opposition in state like Gujarat but now both, the government and the judiciary accept it that the people should be rehabilitated. Government’s National Rehabilitation Policy 2003 can be viewed as the achievement of Save Narmada Movement.