IRN - Orissa

INDIAN RIVER NETWORK (IRN)

BACKGROUND

Leader of Chipko Movement Mr. Chandi Prasad Bhat inaugurating the first conference of IRN at Jamshedpur in 1999

Soon after Independence, India embarked on a path of development through the five-year plans. Big dams across rivers were planned and constructed with aim to improve food production through irrigated crops and increase industrial production through generation of electricity. The then Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called these big dams ‘temples of modern India’. However over the years, the over exploitation of water and natural resources for industrial as well as food production (demand for cash crops) has not only polluted the water bodies and ground water, but has also caused extensive damage to the environment.

In India, many communities have traditionally been living across the banks/ valleys of the rivers. These are usually thickly populated pockets due to availability of water and fertile lands. A majority of these communities are poor and have braved the fury of the rivers such as floods, but continued to live in harmony with nature. The experience from the past shows that these so called ‘development’ projects on various rivers and river valleys has not benefited the adivasis, dalits and other backward and poor sections of the society. On the other hand, floods, drought, pollution and the displacement of the people due to these projects have alienated the people from their surroundings and worsened their plight. There have been some efforts in the past by movements and the people opposing such large projects that have alienated them from their lands. However, barring a few exceptions these struggles have been small and isolated attempts lacking focus and direction.

IRN INITIATIVE

Against this background, Swaraj realised that water would be the most pressing problem in the next millennium. In this context, it was time to reconsider the question of conservation of water sources and decide collectively on various issues associated with water. Swaraj organised a national conference on ‘River valley and water’ in March 1999 at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. More than 100 activists, journalists, artistes, eminent persons from theatre, persons working with movements and mass fronts, professors, social scientists and researchers from across the country attended the conference. The topics discussed included protection of environment, the adverse effect of big dams on the local community, issues such as displacement, flood, drought etc. It was felt that strong people’s movements have to be evolved and these have to be linked regionally, nationally and globally.

The Jamshedpur conference culminated in the formation of a national network of activists and movements who are working with communities located on river valleys and basins. The Indian River Network (IRN) as it is called will be a peoples’ forum and initiate, support and strengthen the struggle of common people against the discriminatory and exploitative development processes in the river valleys. It was also decided that this network should link up with other national forums for effective lobbying and advocacy.

Under the IRN programme, there are four consortiums- three in Bihar and one in Jharkhand; IRN- Orissa working on issues of Tel and Koel-Karo rivers and Save Idukki Campaign in Kerala.

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IRN - Orissa

IRN – Kerala