Sardar Sarovar Dam | Second Largest Concrete Dam of World | UPSC Mains GS3

Summary

The video discusses the Sardar Sarovar Dam, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017. It highlights the dam's significance as an engineering marvel and its benefits, including irrigation and power generation for Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. However, the project faced environmental protests led by Medha Patkar and the Narmada Bachao Andolan due to displacement issues. The video also touches on UPSC exam preparation resources provided by StudyIQ, making education more affordable. Despite the dam's positive impact, concerns about sustainable development and displaced people's rehabilitation remain.

Takeaways

• 🏗️ Sardar Sarovar Dam is considered an engineering marvel and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2017.
• ⚡ The dam provides essential power and irrigation benefits to millions in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
• 🌍 Environmental activists like Medha Patkar protested the dam due to concerns about displacement and environmental impact.
• 💡 The dam was originally conceived by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with the foundation stone laid by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961.
• 🕰️ The dam's construction took over 56 years to complete, with several delays due to environmental and legal challenges.
• 💧 The dam distributes Narmada River water across multiple states, helping millions access drinking water and irrigation facilities.
• 🏞️ Despite its benefits, the dam has displaced thousands of people, many of whom have not yet been satisfactorily rehabilitated.
• 🌊 The dam's current height is 138.68 meters, with a water storage capacity of 4.73 million acre-feet and a length of 1.21 kilometers.
• 📉 Activist movements like the Narmada Bachao Andolan gained international attention, eventually leading to a review by the World Bank.
• ⚖️ The project faced significant legal battles, with the Supreme Court allowing construction under specific conditions, including proper rehabilitation for displaced people.

Q & A

Who inaugurated the Sardar Sarovar Dam?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sardar Sarovar Dam in September 2017.

What is the significance of the Sardar Sarovar Dam?

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is considered an engineering marvel and a symbol of India's emerging power. It provides benefits such as power and irrigation to millions of people.

What were the environmental concerns raised during the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam?

Environmental concerns included the impact on the environment and the rehabilitation of displaced people, which were two of the biggest problems during the construction.

Who were the prominent environmental activists involved in the protests against the Sardar Sarovar Dam?

Prominent environmental activists like Medha Patkar were involved in protests against the dam, leading the Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement).

How many states were supposed to benefit from the Sardar Sarovar Dam project?

Three major states were supposed to benefit from the project: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

What was the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam at the time of its inauguration?

At the time of its inauguration, the Sardar Sarovar Dam had a height of 138.68 meters.

What is the installed capacity of the hydro power plant at the Sardar Sarovar Dam?

The dam has an installed capacity of 1450 megawatts of hydro power.

How much water does the Sardar Sarovar Dam supply to Gujarat?

The dam supplies drinking water to 9490 villages and 173 towns in Gujarat, benefiting approximately 3 crore people.

What is the total length of the canals system that operates through the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat?

The canals system in Gujarat, which operates through the dam, is 75,000 kilometers long.

How much land can potentially be irrigated by the Sardar Sarovar Dam project?

The project can potentially irrigate 18.45 lakh hectares of land.

What was the main condition set by the Supreme Court of India for the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam?

The main condition was that for every 5 meters increase in the dam's height, the people displaced would be provided satisfactory rehabilitation.