It is strange that the Government has not yet considered the people’s views likely to be affected by the Polavaram project. It seems the dam project is carried out virtually ignoring the inhabitants in the Eastern Ghat region.
Again the National Water Commission has been revising the design of the project from time to time to satisfy the whims of the Andhara Pradesh Government, which is quite unjustified and detrimental to interests of the people of the Eastern- Ghat region at large.
Initially, the height of the dam was kept at 150 feet, which was revised to180 feet and yet again it was kept at 220 feet. The effects of such dam and arresting of the water bodies through creation of artificial bunds is against nature and will prove very risky. The spillways designed first at 150 feet were meant for release of excess water of 36 lakh cusecs and with its height further upped to 220 feet, 50 lakh cusecs of excess water from the dam can be released. The decision to raise the height has been taken without taking the consent of the Governments of Odisha and Chhatishgarh. Hence, it is undemocratic and anti-people.
Again, it is a fact that the areas which will be submerged from Odisha and Chhatisgarh side for creation of the huge dam will be no longer within the property list of Odisha and Chhatisgarh. This will be absolute property of Andhra Pradesh for all practical purposes although it will be named as a national dam— Indira Sagar. Here the share of benefit of Odisha is practically zero.
Further the sources of water of Eastern Ghat range will be arrested right at the points of foothill of such hill ranges by erecting three side walls opposite to Eastern Ghat hill range. These walls will be massive water proof concrete stone work, whose heights will be 220 feet which will practically create a very big artificial lake submerging a total 7,656hectares of land areas, including 3,469.02 hectares of reserve forests, 2,069.21 hectares of village forests and 2,016.36 hectares of cultivable lands of tribal people. The tribals have been for generations sustaining their livelihood through agro-based practices. Besides the dam will destroy 15 revenue tribal villages and 10 hamlets and render homeless a total of 6,818 persons, including 5,916 tribals. If the height of the dam becomes 150 feet, there will be minimum damage of human habitats as only three villages will be submerged. 13 revenue villages will be finally under water, if the height of the dam becomes 180 feet.
Mostly, the Eastern Ghat States like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh get monsoon rainfall from south-western wind at the onset of rainy season in India. If such climatic region will be destroyed, it will have an impact on rainfall. Besides destruction of the forests and environment, the project will be against our pledge to reduce carbon emission we have made at the Paris climate conference.
The tribal mass particularly of this region do not prefer urbanization of their own land to break their privacy. They are very much content with their own style of living which they do not want to be disturbed by any account. They also do not prefer any invasion on their own culture. The writer spent much time in tribal villages of Odisha during his years of service as a forest officer. All they want is our modern culture should not be thrust upon them through establishment of several projects and plants. Their culture should be respected and they be allowed the freedom to practice and promote it.
On account of south- western wind, Odisha, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh receive on an average 200 cm annual rainfall during a year for the presence Eastern- Ghat hills. The hills form a geographic system of weather cycle but they are under threat of annihilation if the dam is built. If Eastern- Ghat will be tampered indiscriminately, the extremely oil bearing species of Sal and the associates of Sal will vanish from the region. At the COP-21 Paris meet, the members gave much importance to food security and restoration and cultivation of ecologically safe agro species to save the globe from environmental crisis. When we are taking up Polavaram issue, we are forgetting the COP-21 challenges before us. Hence, the Government of India needs to give a second thought over it.
If we sincerely look at the commitment of India in the Paris meet, much importance has been given on land use policies, which include conservation of bio diversities, water management through local specific flexible approaches.
The Adivasies are the real and truthful protectors of bio- diversities and their indigenous knowledge for land and water management can be handy. The Central Government should acknowledge their worth and wisdom in the field of agro- ecological conservation practices. Malkangiri which will fac the worst if he project is constructed at the present design is home to a large number of tribals and here rice cultivation was started first.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)