Environmental Overview of the Sardar Sarovar Project

An overview of the various studies conducted to assess the environmental, ecological and social impacts, both positive and negative, of the Sardar Sarovar Project is presented. These studies have generally attempted to enhance the positive impacts, and to reduce the negative ones. The Sardar Sarovar Project is by far the most studied water project in the developing world, especially in social and environmental terms. The river Narmada and its numerous tributaries are a part of a very diverse system. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the river valley development is a complex task. The intricate interactions between various parameters, many of which cannot be definitively predicted, make EIA studies extremely difficult. The success of this project depends on how fast and how efficiently the various governmental agencies can work together with the NGOs, academics, the general public, and of course the politicians and policy makers.