Maharashtra
Akhavne and Nagabwadi villages
,
Bhom
,
Sindhudurg
Published :
Jun 2019
|
Updated :
December 20, 2024
Aruna Irrigation dam in Maharashtra to submerge villages, people demand rehabilitation, compensation
Reported by
Nupur Sonar
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
1050
People affected
2018
Year started
714
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
1050
People Affected
2018
Year started
714
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Irrigation Dam
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Power
Reason/Cause of conflict
Irrigation Dam
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

Aruna Dam, a medium-irrigation project in Sindhudurg district, will reportedly submerge three villages in Vaibhavwadi tehsil -- Bhom, Akhavne and Nagapwadi. Tanaji Kamble, a project-affected person (PAP), filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay high court in April 2019 alleging corruption in the construction of the dam and seeking rehabilitation on behalf of the PAPs of the three villages.

According to media reports, the PIL states that the amount given towards compensation is insufficient to build tenements in the new premises and urges the state to establish a new settlement for the PAPs. The PIL also alleges that the state has issued tenders from time to time for irrigation and rehabilitation of the PAPs but that the work has not been completed within the stipulated time, with the ulterior motive of raising the cost of the project to the current INR 1,689 crore.

However, officials involved in the project have refuted these claims. Work on the dam began only after all the required permissions were sought and the PAPs were rehabilitated, they stated in response to the PIL. The officials said that the PAPs were provided temporary huts with tin roofs in their villages in December 2018, which they could occupy until the end of May and that they refused to do so.

Sunil Nagap, another PAP, has filed a writ petition in the Bombay high court alleging lack of rehabilitation and that landowners were not issued notices for land acquisition. Both Kamble's and Nagap's petitions are currently being heard.

The Aruna Dam has a capacity of 93.4 cubic metres and will irrigate 5,310 hectares of land in Vaibhavwadi. The project was granted administrative approval in 1995 at an estimated cost of INR 54 crore at the 1993-94 price-levels. The dam was scheduled for completion in 2000, but construction work started only in 2006.

On 13 December 2023, the Bombay High Court decided on the matter of Sunil Mahadev Nagap and directed an increase in his compensation. In the matter of Tanaji Kamble, the hearings have not started.

According to a report by the Down to Earth based on a CAG report, the rehabilitation in the project is almost complete.

The project construction is still ongoing and the new completion date is 31 January 2025.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for rehabilitation

Demand for compensation

Complaint against procedural violations

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Private

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Project stalled

Original Project Deadline

2000

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Yes

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

No

Source/Reference

<https://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/160519/bombay-hc-demands-reply-on-pil-against-aruna-dam.html> [Project stalled due to allegations of corruption involved in the construction of the dam]

Total investment involved (in Crores):

1689.5

Type of investment:

Revised Investment

Year of Estimation

2019

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Nupur Sonar

Nupur Sonar is keen on issues surrounding land rights. She has formerly worked at Tehelka, Video Volunteers and VICE India.

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for rehabilitation

Demand for compensation

Complaint against procedural violations

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Project stalled

Original Project Deadline

2000

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Yes

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

No

Source/Reference

<https://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/160519/bombay-hc-demands-reply-on-pil-against-aruna-dam.html> [Project stalled due to allegations of corruption involved in the construction of the dam]

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