Jamshedpur town is located in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand state. The city is the largest and the most populous agglomeration in the state and a major industrial zone in Eastern India. Jamshedpur is the first planned industrial city of India and it was founded by Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata. It is even known as Steel City, TataNagar or simply Tata. |
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Dimna reservoir, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India |
| Country: | India |
| State or province: | Jharkhand |
| Location of conflict: | Town-Jamshedpur (Tatanagar) DIstrict - East Singhbhum |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | Dimna Lake was constructed and owned by TATA Steel. It covers about 5.5 square kilometers. Around 1,861 acres were acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 for the dam [2] The Lake is the only source of drinking water for Jamshedpur town. During the monsoon, the reservoir gets filled up in the rain water. In another time if the water fall below a certain level the water is pumped from Subarnarekha Dam in Chandil [3]. |
| Project area: | 753 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 10,000-20,000 (2,000 families) |
| Start of the conflict: | 1942 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Tata Steel from India |
| Relevant government actors: | Government of India, Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Jharkhand Mukti Vahini, Local Villagers |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Local ejos Landless peasants Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Development of alternative proposals Land occupation Public campaigns Street protest/marches Property damage/arson Strikes Jal Satyagraha, standing in water for 'insistence on truth by water' |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity Potential: Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Loss of livelihood, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Displacement, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures Potential: Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
Outcome
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Land demarcation Strengthening of participation Technical solutions to improve resource supply/quality/distribution Under negotiation Application of existing regulations |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | The protesters had a number of meetings since the land was acquired by the Tata Steel officers. The protestors have raised their demands time to time. Their demands include suitable compensation for their land. Also protestors are asking for the boating and fishing rights for the decedents of the affected families on the lake. Although the authorities have promised help, but their demand has not been fulfilled with repeated requests [2] People whose land is not submerged in the lake but located at the periphery of the dam has the right to protect their land. They have asked the authorities for the compensation and if their demands are not met they have threatened that they will force the authorities to open the sluice gates when the water level goes beyond 520ft [3] |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The land losers are seeking suitable compensation and other livelihood options for example fishing or boating right in the lake. For the submerged land, protestors are asking for the demarcation of the land and suitable compensation or else they will protest every time if the water raise above the limit (520 ft) [2, 3]. |
Sources & Materials
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Swapan Kumar Patra |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
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