In Nov 14, 1992 more than a lakh villager came together in Magod, small place in Western Ghats region of Karnataka, to oppose construction of dam by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL). Proposed dam, across the river ‘bedti’, was expected to submerge 10,000ha of forest and agricultural land. The history of anti-Bedti project movement can be traced back to 1980- 1981. A prolonged agitation followed by a seminar on ‘Bedti dam and ecological assessment’ forced the government to give up implementation of the project. When KPCL revived its earlier proposal to build the dam in 1992, Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati Swamiji, a religious leader, organized massive rally of the villagers in November 1992.
It is because of charismatic leader who did not represent any political party or any caste (though he represented Hindu religion) more than a lakh villager came together, irrespective of which political party and the area/village they belong to, to protest the government action. Some of the villagers were directly or indirectly going to get the brunt of the dam and hence self interest was involved in them. But there were thousands of other villagers who were living far away from the projected catchment and command area. Swamiji himself had no self interest in protesting the dam. His motive was to protect the environment and the affecting people who belong not only to Hindu religion. Probably this factor must have attracted many people from far away.
Government has not given up the project entirely. Every now and then it comes with new mask and people oppose the project. Collective protest is on here…….
2 comments:
The issue of hydroelectric power project has always been a cause of conflict between the local people and the government authorities. Issue of resettlement is the largest fear of the locals and it is well justified. In most cases like this it leads to a collective protest either violent or nonviolent against the project.
I think that here self interest has a got a bigger role to play in promoting collective action. The leaders are most of the times driven by moral motivations as is here in this case. But the followers are generally driven by self interest. In fact the leaders should try to generate some self interest of the followers so that the movement can sustain for a long time.
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