Reported by
Legal Review by
Edited by
Updated by
Published on
September 19, 2016
May 31, 2023
Edited on
May 2, 2023
September 19, 2016
Land Area Affected (in Hectares)
Starting Year
Polavaram
East Godavari
Multipurpose Dam
Eviction and lack of proper rehabilitation, forest land submergence
National Park
The Polavaram project is a multi-purpose irrigation and hydroelectricity project. Although it is located on the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, some parts of the neighbouring states - Odisha and Chhattisgarh - will also be submerged.
The idea for the project was proposed in 1948, but it materialised only in 2005. Construction started after the environmental clearance was granted but before the forest clearance in 2010. This is because the state government did not realise that it would need to construct embankments until much later, which required forest clearance. According to government estimates, the project will submerge 276 villages in Andhra Pradesh alone. However, this figure is contradicted by news reports that suggest that more than 300 villages will be affected. According to one [report](https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/forests/why-polavaram-is-a-pointless-project-33445#:~:text=DAM WILL SUBMERGE VILLAGES UP TO A DISTANCE OF 150 KM&text=Water from these reservoirs will,construct embankments to avoid submergence.), the project will displace between 200,000-400,000 people.
Between 2013-2014, the Polavaram project played a central role in negotiations in the formation of Telangana. The Andhra Pradesh government made Telengana's approval a fundamental condition for entering into negotiations. In this process, the project was declared a national project eligible for funds from the Central government.
The project has faced protest over the alarming numbers of tribal communities and other forest dwellers who will be displaced across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
About 3,000 tribespeople participated in a protest rally in early 2005 in Chittoor and submitted a memorandum to the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO). When the MRO refused to meet the delegation and receive the memorandum, the rally turned violent when a few demonstrators damaged the office furniture. The police arrested 11 protesters.
Apart from the massive displacement the dam will cause, environmentalists and activists have also pointed out the adverse impact on the archaeological sites, coal deposits and wildlife sanctuaries, such as the Papikonda National Park.
Until 2010, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik remained steadfast in his demand for compensation and rehabilitation for the affected population of Odisha.
In 2017, affected communities, including members of tribal groups and Dalits, planned a big march with several Dalit rights activists and leaders of the Marxist party. At least 50 leaders who were to attend this meeting were placed under house arrest and could not attend it. Speaking with LCW, Prem Kumar, an affected community member who was a part of this march said, "A Minister attended our march and promised us increased compensation. But we are yet to receive that. As part of the R&R package, we have received a small one room house which becomes a heat chamber in summers. We are now landless, unemployed, and under heavy debt which we had to take for our survival. Our only hope is that we will receive the compensation money one day."
In June 2018, he wrote to the Centre asking to halt the Polavaram Project. Ignoring his plea, the Andhra Pradesh government continued work.
However, in November 2019, the project faced a hurdle with the new government coming to power in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy decided to terminate the contract awarded to Navayuga Engineering. The termination would have delayed the construction as well as the rehabilitation and resettlement plan for the project. The decision was struck down by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The Centre has given a two-year deadline to the Andhra Pradesh government to complete the project. Protests continue till date at the project site.
In May 2020, Anil Kumar, irrigation minister in the Government of Andhra Pradesh, said, "The Rehabilitation and Resettlement work has resumed. The government has decided to construct 15,000-18,000 houses for those who will be displaced in Andhra Pradesh." Furthermore, about 2,000 families, mostly tribal families that will be affected by the project in Odisha and Chattisgarh, will be rehabilitated by the Central government.
As of March 2021, 98,818 project-affected families were to be displaced in both East and West Godavari districts. A PIL was filed at the Andhra Pradesh High Court by SAKTI, an NGO, as basic amenities were not available at the resettlement areas. The Court ordered that the rehabilitation should not take place until the amenities are provided at the resettlement areas.
Demand for rehabilitation
Refusal to give up land for the project
Demand for compensation
Demand to scrap project
Rural
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
11
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Yes
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Yes
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
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
PD act
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Yes they were informed, Yes they had access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
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
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
2022
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Water bodies, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
9072
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2005
Page Number In Investment Document:
3
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Environmental Laws, Constitutional Law
Legislations/Policies Involved
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Non-implementation/violation of FRA
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Incorrect estimation of compensation
Use of old/outdated laws
Delay in compensation
Violation of environmental laws
Delay in allottment and possession of land/property
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
High Court of Andhra Pradesh
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
Local organisations took out a rally in early 2005 at Chintoor with 3,000 tribal people participating and submitted a memorandum to the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO). When the MRO refused to meet the delegation and receive the memorandum, the rally turned violent as a few demonstrators damaged the office furniture. In this incident, 11 protesters were arrested. Considering it a serious violation of human rights, the organisations continued their protest for the second day and organised a 'rasta roko'. They shot arrows and burnt the effigy of the chief minister. Since then, anti-Polavaram protests have continued on a regular basis.
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Nature of Protest
Blockades
Complaints/petitions/letters/memorandums to officials
Protests/marches
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Government of Andhra Pradesh, Government of Orissa, Government of Chattisgarh, Government of Telangana
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Soma Consortium, China Gezhouba Group Company
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Forest dwellers, Godavari Basic Action Group (GBAG), Andhra Pradesh Girijana Sangam, Tudum Debba, human rights activists
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
11
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Yes
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
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
PD act
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Yes they were informed, Yes they had access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
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?
A house received by affected community members as part of the resettlement and rehabilitation package
Image Credit:
Rachit Tiwari
Affected community members who are awaiting the promised compensation
Image Credit:
Rachit Tiwari
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