Basaniya dam sparks displacement fears in tribal villages of Mandla

Villagers are to be displaced due to the Basaniya Dam being built in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. After this displacement, people are afraid of losing their livelihood and land. Due to this fear, opposition continues among the survey teams and villagers.

Yet another dam is being proposed on the Narmada River—this time in Odhari village, located in Mandla district. The area is home to tribal communities who primarily rely on agriculture for their livelihood. The construction of the dam, known as the Basaniya Multipurpose Project, threatens to displace these communities by submerging farmland and disrupting lives.

The project is expected to affect eight villages in the Mandla district and 13 in the neighbouring Dindori district. Local tribal residents, particularly in Odhari, are expressing deep concern over the potential loss of their land and livelihoods. They are demanding that the Gram Sabha (village council) grant its approval before any survey work for the dam begins, arguing that proceeding without this consent is unjustified.

Rajkumar Sinha of the Bargi Dam Establishment and Affected Association stated that over 2,700 families across Mandla and Dindori districts stand to be displaced by the project. He warned that such displacement would create significant hardships for the affected communities. 

The Madhya Pradesh (Expansion of Scheduled Areas) Rules, 2022, require the consent of the Gramme Sabha before any land can be acquired in a scheduled area, and no work can begin without this consent. On this occasion the villagers say that the rules are not being followed. The survey of the land began immediately. In fact, the Mandla and Dindori districts are included in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. Under this schedule, special provisions are made for tribal areas. Villagers report a lack of adherence to these standards. Therefore, the proposed Gram Sabha has passed a resolution against the construction of the dam and informed the authorities. 

Basaniya Dam Project

There are over 30 major dams on the Narmada River, but the most significant and widely known are the five major dams planned under the Narmada Valley Development Project (NVDP). The river has some of the biggest and most controversial dams.

This time, the Narmada Valley Development Department had given administrative approval for the project for the construction of a dam in Basnia in August 2021. This dam, to be built in Odhari village, will irrigate 8780 hectares of land and produce 100 MW electricity. Due to the construction of this dam, about 6343 hectares of land in Mandla and Dindori districts is going to be submerged. This land will require relocation. The villagers oppose this plan. The foundation stone of this project was laid by Prime Minister Modi in February 2024. 

A team had reached the village to survey the proposed dam in October 2024. Here the team also had to face opposition from the villagers. Seeing the attitude of the villagers, the survey team returned empty-handed.

After this protest, the then officials, including Ghughri SDM, SDOP and Naib Tehsildar reached the spot along with the government department. He tried to convince the villagers by talking to them, but the villagers remained adamant in opposing the survey. Therefore, the officers returned without confrontation, despite the police force.

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