Friday 21 April 2006 by Manthan Adhyayan Kendra
The Bhakra Nangal project has become a legend in India. It is accorded overwhelming, at times the sole credit for rescuing India from hunger and famine, for making India self-sufficient in foodgrains production, for making Punjab and Haryana highly prosperous and surplus states.
Forty years after it was completed, it continues to be used as one of the main arguments in justifying new large dam projects in the country. Indeed, “What would be the situation without the Bhakra project?” is a question that is used less as a question than as an answer, as an argument, as a justification.
However, there have been few studies of the precise role played by the Bhakra Nangal project. Its contribution is often assumed to be self-evident. This study attempts to look at the broad developmental impacts of the project, in particular its impact and contribution to food security in the country.
The study is published in the form a Report titled Unravelling Bhakra. The full report is 370+ pages, including maps and photos.
A print copy or a CD of the PDF format report can be ordered. Order Print Copy or CD of the Report