Bodhghat Dam: A Conflict Between Development and Tribal Rights

The revival of the Bodhghat project has sparked a fierce debate regarding tribal rights and environmental conservation in Chhattisgarh. Conceived in 1979 and halted in 1987 due to intense local resistance, the project is moving forward again. Government officials insist the dam is essential for providing water to parched fields and generating up to 300 MW of electricity. However, indigenous populations view the project as a direct threat to their ancestral lands and traditional way of life, leading to renewed tensions as survey teams enter the forest belt.