The Maheshwar hydropower project is one of the many planned dams and hydropower plants in the Narmada basin, known as Narmada Valley Development Plan (NVDP). It was launched in 1975 by the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA); it has been planned for power generation purposes, in order to provide with electricity industries and therefore fordern local industrial development. In 1994 it was handed over to the private textile company S. Kumars, as part of the wave of massive liberalizations and privatizations under Rajiv Gandhis government. The new Shree Maheshwar Hydro-Electric Power Corporation Ltd (SMHPC) was originally owned by S. Kumars, but with major equity positions intended for foreign investors. The Maheshwar dam is therefore known as the first hydropower project in India to be privatized. The project has been now suspended because of noncompliance of dam authorities with Indian law about resettlement and rehabilitation of oustees. A large movement, the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) that includes tribal people, farmers and environmental and human rights activists, has been peacefully fighting against the project as well as against the construction of other 30 big and 135 mid-size dams planned in the NVDP. The struggle in Maheshwar has been going on for the last 15 years and has pushed for viable alternatives and reported about violation of national laws and human rights. |