Struggle around Hathmati dam, Sabarkatha, Gujarat

There have been many struggles around the issue of Dams in Gujarat. While the struggle against the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) is well known, there are others like the struggle for riparian rights around the Dantiwada and Sipu dams, the struggle against the Lalpur dam, etc. One such struggle around the Hathmati dam in Sabarkatha district brought to the fore important issue concerning the rights over the draw down cultivation and lands that open up after the waters of the dams recede for a few months in a year. The following excerpts from a write up By Shri Harshad Desai titled, “Bhanu Adhvariyu: Vanchito na hami- Karmashilona prerna strot”, in the book “Rudra Veena no Jankar”, which is a compilation of articles by Bhanubhai Adhvariyu himself, gives details of the struggle as follows (translated from Gujarati by me): 

  

The Hathmati dam. Photo Source: http://guj-nwrws.gujarat.gov.in/mediafiles/image/hathmati.jpg

“...In the year 1979, he (Bhanubhai Adhvariyu) saw the landlords cultivating the draw down land (the land that opens up for a few months when the reservoir water recedes) of the Hathmati reservoir and he immediately realized that the deprived are being subtracted from the developmental projects. In response to this, with the help of a Dalit activist Shri Karsanbhai Parmar from the nearby village Mau, he established the ‘Shramjeevi Samaj’ in the year 1980. The GR (Government regulation) of the year 1966 clearly states that the draw down lands of the reservoir should be given to the landless people from villages on the banks of the reservoir for cultivation. However that GR was buried under the dust of the Secretariat and forgotten. With the help of the commissioned officer Shri C. M. Joshi, he (Bhanubhai) found that GR. That same year in September, about 580 landless people belonging to the backward classes from the area of the reservoir undertook Khed Satyagraha. The landlords tried several tricks but finally at the end of 12 months, the landless got approximately 1500 acres of land to cultivate for the first time on a yearly basis. During the entire struggle, Jeenabhai Darji’s support was received on a continuous basis.  During the initial years of the Shramjeevi Samaj, it not only received support from Gujarat Khet Vikas Parishad but also its familial warmth. Moreover during this initial phase financial support was received from Jaiprakash Amrutkosh...”

In an article by Bhanubhai Adhvariyu dated 4-9-84, titled “Garudi ane Mau: Bandh Vishe Andh Rahe nahi Chale”, (Garudi and Mau: It will not do to remain blind about dams), published in the same book brings to light more problems related to dams in Gujarat as follows:  “In the village Garudi of Modasa Taluka, five people including one woman died in firing. The Government has declared a judicial inquiry into this incident. That is, whether the firing was appropriate or not will be decided by the inquiry commission. However it is necessary to discuss here the reason for such an incident to have taken place and its fall out. 

“As per the news that has been published, those whose lands were going in a dam being built nearby were given the Gauchar land (grazing land) for resettlement. This was opposed by the village people. As per the orders by the Government when the oustees came to cultivate the land, a dispute arose and as a result the incident of firing took place... the other issue is that of proliferation of dams being built. Particularly in Sabarkatha, a dam is being built at every third step. It is a matter of research as to who really benefits from such dams and to what extent. It is a question as to whether the Government will at all recover even at the end of fifty years the expenditure incurred on the dams. In many dams the recovery is not enough to cover even the maintenance cost that is incurred. Actually, many in the irrigation department have established vested interest in building dams. That is the reason why they keep planning new projects. 

“In every dam, some villages submerge and the issue of their rehabilitation somewhere else comes up. This issue is no longer as simple as it was before. Land available earlier is no longer available. The central Government has prohibited the allocation of forest land to the displaced people. Under such circumstances it is not proper to commence in every taluka of northern area, four to five medium or large irrigation projects. The Government should rethink about this. 

Incidents such as in Garudi and other villages are the signs of future.”

The Government of Gujarat did not rethink about such dams as warned/advised by one of its senior and distinguished activists like Shri Bhanubhai Adhvariyu and went ahead with yet another mega dam - the SSP on the river Narmada. However, what Bhanubhai had predicted and had  cautioned as signs of times to come - way back in 1984 has come true. Due to the fierce struggle by the people of the Narmada Valley,  the SSP that was supposed to be completed in the year 1997- remains incomplete even today.

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