Sabarmati Riverfront Development (Ahmedabad)
- In my last 120 km to the sea I carry only industrial effluent and sewage. Down To Earth
- 120 km of my rivers were polluted.Final stretch of the river to the sea reported to carry only industrial effluent and sewage.
- About 8,500 people were displaced or listed for relocation.Survey of 1999–2002, as cited by Scroll (2014).
- About 12,000 people were displaced or listed for relocation.Evicted over nine years, per Scroll (2014).
- More than 10,000 people were displaced or listed for relocation.Project company figure.
- About 5,000 people were displaced or listed for relocation.Down To Earth (2019).
- Government and regulators Ahmedabad municipality and SRFDCL: Presented the project as reclaiming the river for the city.
- Press and investigations Down To Earth (2019): The stretch along the city was filled with Narmada canal water; the last 120 km of the river to the sea carried only industrial effluent and sewage. Down To Earth
Ahmedabad's Sabarmati riverfront project was presented as reclaiming the river for the city and won awards. Sources report thousands of families moved 7 to 15 km away and a river that downstream carries industrial effluent and sewage.
Share of reclaimed riverfront land, as reported by Down To Earth.
Status As of the latest source reviewed (March 2019): resettlement figures remained disputed and the last 120 km of the river was reported to carry only industrial effluent and sewage.
- Ahmedabad municipality and SRFDCL — Reclaimed land, part earmarked for commercial sale; awards and a loan. Down To Earth
- Displaced families — Moved 7 to 15 km away; more than 1,000 left without shelter after May 2011. Scroll
- The river downstream — The last 120 km carries only industrial effluent and sewage. Down To Earth
What happened
The Sabarmati Riverfront Development project in Ahmedabad, India, ran from 2009 to 2019 according to the sources reviewed. The Ahmedabad municipality and its project company, SRFDCL, presented it as reclaiming the river for the city.
Down To Earth reported that the project received a HUDCO loan, won a HUDCO award in 2012 and was placed on KPMG's 'most innovative' list, and that 14% to 21% of the reclaimed land was earmarked for commercial sale.
Reports of how many people were displaced differ. A 1999–2002 survey counted about 8,500 families (Scroll, 2014); Scroll also reported about 12,000 people evicted over nine years. The project company put the figure at more than 10,000 households; Down To Earth reported about 5,000 families. Land Conflict Watch reported that more than 1,000 families were left without shelter after the May 2011 demolitions. Scroll and Land Conflict Watch reported resettlement sites 7 to 15 km away, and an average of 7 km from the centre.
Down To Earth reported in March 2019 that the stretch along the city had been filled with water from the Narmada canal, which it described as a dirty stagnant pool, and that the last 120 km of the river to the sea carried only industrial effluent and sewage.
The sources reviewed record no penalty or prosecution. The project company stated that resettlement was supervised by the Gujarat High Court.
- 2002A 1999–2002 survey counts about 8,500 families on the riverbank
- 2009Project period begins (2009–2019)
- 2011May demolitions: more than 1,000 families left without shelter
- 2012HUDCO award; project later cited on KPMG's 'most innovative' list
- 2014Scroll reports about 12,000 people evicted in nine years
- 2019Down To Earth reports waste flowing downstream over the last 120 km of the river
What was said
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
A 1999–2002 survey counted about 8,500 families; about 12,000 people were evicted in nine years.
ScrollMore than 10,000 households.
Presented the project as reclaiming the river for the city.
The stretch along the city was filled with Narmada canal water; the last 120 km of the river to the sea carried only industrial effluent and sewage.
Down To EarthHow it looked
Shown
- The project was presented as reclaiming the river for the city.Ahmedabad municipality and SRFDCL
- The project received the HUDCO award (2012) and a place on KPMG's 'most innovative' list.HUDCO; KPMG · Down To Earth
Recorded
- Displacement figures: about 8,500 families (1999–2002 survey), about 12,000 people (nine years), more than 10,000 households (project company), about 5,000 families (Down To Earth).
- More than 1,000 families were left without shelter after the May 2011 demolitions.
- Resettlement sites were 7 to 15 km away.
- The stretch along the city was filled with Narmada canal water; the last 120 km of the river to the sea carried only industrial effluent and sewage.
- 14% to 21% of reclaimed land was earmarked for commercial sale.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- srfdcl: Stated that more than 10,000 households were affected and that resettlement was supervised by the Gujarat High Court.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Disputed Did the project restore the river?
Court
- None on record No court case on record.
Accounts
- Disputed How many people were displaced?
Record
- Disputed Displacement figures differ across sources: about 5,000 families, about 8,500 families, more than 10,000 households and about 12,000 people.
- None on record The sources reviewed record no penalty or prosecution connected with the project.
Did the harm stop?
The sources reviewed do not record any stop to the displacement or the downstream discharge.
Who paid?
Families moved 7 to 15 km from the riverbank, and the river downstream, which carries industrial effluent and sewage over its last 120 km.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Sabarmati Riverfront displacementScroll · 2014-09
- The dark side of Sabarmati river developmentDown To Earth · 2019-03
- Concerns over Sabarmati Riverfront Development ProjectDown To Earth ·
Communities and civil society
- Families displaced by Sabarmati Riverfront continue to face hardshipsLand Conflict Watch ·
Connected cases
- WWF-UK corporate income falls to GBP 10.6m as charity consults on 90 job cuts United Kingdom · 2024–2025
- KPMG (Company) — here: Ranking publisher; there: Corporate partner whose partnership ended or was scaled back