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Farmers Unhappy with Compensation Offered for Omkareshwar Dam in MP, Launch Satyagraha

Reported by

Gourav Jaiswal

Legal Review by

Edited by

Updated by

Published on

September 26, 2016

May 17, 2022

Edited on

September 26, 2016

State

Madhya Pradesh

Sector

Infrastructure

People Affected by Conflict

74400

Households Affected by Conflict

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

5800

ha

Starting Year

2003

Location of Conflict

Gopalgaon

Kamankheda, Kelva Khurd, Ricchfal, Nandiya Khedi, Suktapur and Bada Kelva villages

Khandwa

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Multipurpose Dam

Land Conflict Summary

The Omkareshwar project is a multipurpose dam project planned across river Narmada in Khandwa district. The dam was constructed between 2003 and 2007, with a purpose of irrigating 1.47 lakh hectare of land in Khargone, Dhar and Khandwa district, according to the Narmada Control Authority. With an installed capacity of 520 megawatt, produced by eight power stations, the dam will impact an estimated 15,500 families in Khandwa district. In 2012, 51 farmers of Gopalgaon village launched a 17day satyagraha_, _which ended after the state government formed a committee to look into the grievances of farmers. They demanded more compensation for the land that was allotted to them under the Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy Amendment, 2003. The state accepted their demands and promised them compensation of INR 2 lakh per acre under the new Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation package of 2013%20was%20announced.). However, the villagers are not happy with the new compensation package. This compensation, according to Narmada Bachao Andolan Activist Alok Agarwal, is not even half the actual market price. Furthermore, not a single farmer has been issued any fertile and undisputed land, as promised by the government under the package. In 2015, the farmers launched a Jal Satyagraha after the government raised the water level of Omkareshwar Dam from 189 metres to 191 metres, which led to submergence of villages. More than 70 _satyagrahis _developed skin disorders and other ailments. However, the people continued their opposition against the project. In March 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the state government to allot cultivable land to the oustees of the dam within three months. The relocated ones were given a choice of preferring 15 per cent interest on the rehabilitation package. The decision, by a fivejudge bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, came after a petition was filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan on March 13, 2019. In late October 2019, the affected people again launched a 12day Jal Satyagraha after the water level was increased. This was despite the Supreme Court ruling that ordered to rehabilitate people before increasing the water level in the dam. The satyagraha ended after Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC) Chief General Manager Pawan Sharma gave a written assurance to meet five of the six demands on behalf of the state. The key promises were to develop a rehabilitation site for 500 families and double the compensation package announced in 2013 for 700 families. However, the sixth demand to decrease the water in the catchment area that leads to flooding in the villages was declined citing technical issues by the NHDC team.

Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Demand for rehabilitation

Demand for promised land

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Both

Type of Common Land

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

1784.29

Type of investment:

Cost of Project

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Legal Data

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Land Acquisition Laws, Central/State Government Policy

Legislations/Policies Involved

Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation Package, 2013
Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy Amendment, 2003
Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 1985
Land Acquisition Act, 1894
Section 4 [Publication of preliminary notification]; Section 5A [Hearing of objections to the notification]; Section 6 [Declaration that land is required for public purpose]; Section 9 [Notice to persons interested]; Section 11 [Enquiry and award by collector]; Section 11A [Collector shall make an award within a period of two years from the date of the publication of the declaration]; Section 15 read with Sections 23 and 24 [Matters to be considered and neglected in determining the amount of compensation]; Section 31 [On making an award under Section 11, the collector shall tender payment of the compensation awarded by him to the persons interested entitled thereto according to the award]; Section 48 [If government exercises option to withdraw acquisition proceedings, collector to determine compensation amount for damage suffered by affected persons]
  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  4. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  5. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  6. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  7. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

Incorrect estimation of compensation

Non-rehabilitation of displaced people

Controversial land acquisition by the government

Non-payment of compensation/promised compensation

Legal Status:

In Court

Status of Case In Court

Disposed

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

Madhya Pradesh High Court, Supreme Court of India

Case Number

AIR no. 142 of 2008, Civil Appeal No. 2082 of 2011

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

No items found.

Whether criminal law was used against protestors:

Reported Details of the Violation:

Date of Violation

Location of Violation

Additional Information

Nature of Protest

Protests/marches

Advocacy (for inclusion in courts)

Refusal of compensation

Development of a network or collective

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Madhya Pradesh Government

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Narmada Valley Development Authority, Narmada Control Authority, Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Narmada Valley Development Authority

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Narmada Bachao Andolan

Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Resources

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Images

Image Credit:  

Image Credit:  

Video

The Omkareshwar project is a multipurpose dam project planned across river Narmada in Khandwa district. The dam was constructed between 2003 and 2007, with a purpose of irrigating 1.47 lakh hectare of land in Khargone, Dhar and Khandwa district, according to the Narmada Control Authority. With an installed capacity of 520 megawatt, produced by eight power stations, the dam will impact an estimated 15,500 families in Khandwa district. In 2012, 51 farmers of Gopalgaon village launched a 17day satyagraha_, _which ended after the state government formed a committee to look into the grievances of farmers. They demanded more compensation for the land that was allotted to them under the Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy Amendment, 2003. The state accepted their demands and promised them compensation of INR 2 lakh per acre under the new Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation package of 2013%20was%20announced.). However, the villagers are not happy with the new compensation package. This compensation, according to Narmada Bachao Andolan Activist Alok Agarwal, is not even half the actual market price. Furthermore, not a single farmer has been issued any fertile and undisputed land, as promised by the government under the package. In 2015, the farmers launched a Jal Satyagraha after the government raised the water level of Omkareshwar Dam from 189 metres to 191 metres, which led to submergence of villages. More than 70 _satyagrahis _developed skin disorders and other ailments. However, the people continued their opposition against the project. In March 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the state government to allot cultivable land to the oustees of the dam within three months. The relocated ones were given a choice of preferring 15 per cent interest on the rehabilitation package. The decision, by a fivejudge bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, came after a petition was filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan on March 13, 2019. In late October 2019, the affected people again launched a 12day Jal Satyagraha after the water level was increased. This was despite the Supreme Court ruling that ordered to rehabilitate people before increasing the water level in the dam. The satyagraha ended after Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation (NHDC) Chief General Manager Pawan Sharma gave a written assurance to meet five of the six demands on behalf of the state. The key promises were to develop a rehabilitation site for 500 families and double the compensation package announced in 2013 for 700 families. However, the sixth demand to decrease the water in the catchment area that leads to flooding in the villages was declined citing technical issues by the NHDC team.

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Demand for rehabilitation

Demand for promised land

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Both

Type of Common Land

Forest and Non-Forest

Total investment involved (in Crores):

1784.29

Type of investment:

Cost of Project

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Land Acquisition Laws, Central/State Government Policy

Legislations/Policies Involved

Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation Package, 2013
Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy Amendment, 2003
Madhya Pradesh Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 1985
Land Acquisition Act, 1894
Section 4 [Publication of preliminary notification]; Section 5A [Hearing of objections to the notification]; Section 6 [Declaration that land is required for public purpose]; Section 9 [Notice to persons interested]; Section 11 [Enquiry and award by collector]; Section 11A [Collector shall make an award within a period of two years from the date of the publication of the declaration]; Section 15 read with Sections 23 and 24 [Matters to be considered and neglected in determining the amount of compensation]; Section 31 [On making an award under Section 11, the collector shall tender payment of the compensation awarded by him to the persons interested entitled thereto according to the award]; Section 48 [If government exercises option to withdraw acquisition proceedings, collector to determine compensation amount for damage suffered by affected persons]
  1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  2. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  3. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  4. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  5. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  6. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

  7. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

Incorrect estimation of compensation

Non-rehabilitation of displaced people

Controversial land acquisition by the government

Non-payment of compensation/promised compensation

Legal Status:

In Court

Status of Case In Court

Disposed

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

Madhya Pradesh High Court, Supreme Court of India

Case Number

AIR no. 142 of 2008, Civil Appeal No. 2082 of 2011

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

No items found.

Whether criminal law was used against protestors:

Reported Details of the Violation:

Date of Violation

Location of Violation

Nature of Protest

Protests/marches

Advocacy (for inclusion in courts)

Refusal of compensation

Development of a network or collective

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Madhya Pradesh Government

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Narmada Valley Development Authority, Narmada Control Authority, Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Narmada Valley Development Authority

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Narmada Bachao Andolan

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Image Credit:  

Image Credit:  

Documented By

Text Link

Reviewed By

Text Link

Updated By

Text Link

Edited By

Text LinkLand Conflict Watch

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