The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) opposed dam projects in the Narmada Valley due to concerns over large-scale displacement, environmental harm, and inadequate rehabilitation for affected communities. The movement challenged the rationale behind such massive development initiatives and called for more sustainable and equitable alternatives.

Key Concerns of the NBA:

1. Displacement and Rehabilitation: The NBA protested the forced displacement of thousands of people due to dam submergence. It demanded fair and just rehabilitation that ensured affected families retained their livelihoods and dignity.

2. Environmental Impact: The movement highlighted ecological risks such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of the river’s natural flow, with potential harm to downstream areas due to waterlogging and salinity.

3. Lack of Public Participation: The NBA criticized the exclusion of local communities from decision-making, arguing that those most affected by the projects were not properly consulted or involved in planning.

4. Questionable Cost-Benefit Analysis: It questioned the economic justification of the dams, asserting that social and environmental costs were underestimated and that more sustainable and less harmful alternatives were ignored.

5. Equity and Justice: The NBA emphasized that the benefits of the dams would not be equally shared and that marginalized communities were disproportionately bearing the costs of development.

6. Impact on Livelihoods: Concerns were raised about declining agricultural productivity and food security in downstream areas due to changes in water availability and increased soil salinity.

In essence, the NBA stood for sustainable development, social justice, and community rights, challenging the dominant model of large-scale infrastructural growth at the expense of people and the environment.