Environmental and project displacement of population in India. Part I: Development and deracination
Maloney, C.
Field Staff Reports 14: 1-16
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 1041-4312 PMID: 12317786 Document Number: 322046
Official development projects in India have displaced at least 20 million persons since Indian independence in 1947, and the majority have not been relocated in planned resettlement. India is in a race to implement development projects needed to support the growth of its population, which increased from 361 million in 1951 to 840 million in 1990. Through the 1960s and 1970s about 1/4 of these oustees were minimally resettled and the rest had to find their own way to get reestablished. There is no international consensus on the rights of internally displaced persons, but most countries compensate people. Agricultural labor and construction labor are the most common types of work of the landless oustees. 1,589 large dams built since independence ousted the largest number of people. Dams, reservoirs, and canals displaced 11,000,000 people; 2,750,000 were rehabilitated and 8,250,000 found their own way. Mines displaced 1,700,000; 450,000 were rehabilitated and 1,250,000 found their own way. Industries displaced 1,000,000; 300,000 were rehabilitated and 700,000 found their own way. Parks and sanctuaries displaced 600,000; 150,000 were rehabilitated and 450,000 relocated on their own. Other projects displacing people are forest preserves, wildlife sanctuaries, military installations, weapons testing grounds, nuclear installations, and railroads and roads. The World Bank requires compensation for people displaced by 12 dam projects it is funding in India: the underestimated count is 610,500 persons. The Pong Dam, a 130 m high gravel dam, under the western Himalayas ousted 30,330 families, about 167,000 people, but only 16,001 families were found eligible for compensation. The Subarnarekha Project in southern Bihar is displacing 10,000 families, about 55,000 people. The state government estimates that 35% of these will not settle in suggested relocation sites because land is not available.