Trees in the Submergence zone of Sardar Sarovar Project

In 1987, India’s environment clearance for the projects was given, despite the fact that the information required prior to the Projects’ clearance was unavailable. In order to overcome this deficiency, studies were to be conducted pari passu with construction. The clearance was conditional on completion of these basic studies by 1989. Most remain to be completed…

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Even till date, as this is being written (July 2020), the studies concerning the impacts on the Flora and Fauna, the Catchment Area, the Command Area, Seismicity, Health impacts, Rehabilitation Master Plan, and Fisheries by the SSP have not been done or completed.

While no government studies are available about the actual loss of bio-diversity, flora and fauna, number of trees, etc., due to submergence by the SSP, an indicative sample survey carried out by the Narmada Bachao Andolan in the year 2016-17 found that in eight submergence villages of Dhar District alone, there were 29,335 trees standing. One of these eight villages is a tribal village and partially forested and the remaining seven are part of the plains of Nimad in Madhya Pradesh. 

Because the trees and forests in the submergence area of SSP have been felled or have gone under water, it becomes important to know what kind of trees were there in this region before the devastation. This is important because these were not mono-culture plantations but ecosystems comprising interdependent local species that had grown naturally over time and were rich in diversity.  

Each tree, its wood, leaves and fruits were used for specific and distinct purposes. For example, the flowers of Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) were used to make alcohol where as its seeds to make cooking oil. Similarly, the wood of some trees was used as building material for houses and boats as their wood is termite resistant and waterproof. The wood of some trees was used to make agricultural implements like ploughs because of its hardness. Some tree wood was used as fire wood only or the wood of some trees was used as a Mashal or torch because it burned evenly, threw more light and was smokeless. The leaves of the Tendu tree were used to roll bidis. Some trees gave exudations like gum, or katchu. Some trees were valued for their fruit.

A list of trees compiled by senior activist, Late Kemat Gavle of Khedut Mazdoor Chetna Sangathan, listed 54 varieties of trees found in the submergence villages of the tribal District of Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh. This list is not an exhaustive list and many other different verities of trees in the submergence areas in Maharashtra, Gujarat and in the plains of Madhya Pradesh may be added to it. Names of trees will be added as more information is received. 

Photographs here have been taken by different people, as acknowledged in the Support Network.

सरदार सरोवर की डूब में आने वाले पेड़