Damned if he does

Assemble a horde of exceedingly photogenic protestors at the gates, and weak administrators can’t desist the temptation to perform to their chants. As Union minister for water resources, Saifuddin Soz may argue he should take note of Narmada protestors’ angst. But given the technical and procedural groundwork that preceded the Narmada Control Authority’s decision to hike the height of the dam, he is far more obliged to lay out the proprieties of the case to protestors. Shockingly, he has chosen to sacrifice administrative diligence for the — anyway paltry — gains from popular grandstanding. He now says he isn’t happy with the decision to raise the height of the dam — from 110.64 m to 121.92 m — for which clearance was obtained this month from the NCA. This could set the clock back on the project, even after environmental as well as relief and rehabilitation issues had been at long last settled in the four affected states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

The minister’s attention needs to be drawn to the continued shortages that could be sustained due to his misguided intervention in the Narmada project. He must know that his enthusiasm to settle scores with state governments would have obvious consequences for the millions of households that stand to get water and electricity from the dam. The dam is expected to provide irrigation water for about 1.8 million hectares, directly benefiting 800,000 families in severely drought-prone areas, mainly in Gujarat but also in Rajasthan. In addition, it will provide domestic, municipal and industrial water for about 30 million consumers, in areas where malnutrition and unsafe domestic water supply cause a wide array of diseases. The dam will have a power generation capacity of 1,450 megawatts and will provide electricity to the power-starved states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Soz talks about guaranteeing the rehabilitation of those affected by the project. There can be no arguing against that. But the NCA — chaired by his own secretary — has put on record its satisfaction with the relief and rehabilitation as well as the grievance redressal mechanisms in place. If Soz can’t see where his duty lies following his secretary’s careful deliberations, the prime minister must make him see that. Dr Singh, we are sure, understands that the dam is a lifeline to people, not a politician.