Bhavnath Temple Essay

Written Analysis and Communication-I Assignment – I Case Analysis â€Å"Bhavnath Temple† Submitted On: Submitted By: 16-07-2010 Arpit Dangayach Section-A Roll No. 101114 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The problem is government’s dilemma to go with lower or higher reservoir capacity. Government’s objective is to provide economic development. It wants to increase agricultural production and generate higher revenues. Option 1, government can go for lower reservoir capacity. Option 2, government can go for higher reservoir capacity. Option 3, government can go for reduced reservoir capacity. Option 1 would save the temple. Revenues would be earned from agriculture and tourism. In option 2, temple would be submerged but higher production and revenues would be there. In option 3, lower production and revenues would be there but support of the villagers will be beneficial for future expansion. Word Count: 107 MAIN REPORT The case has been set in post independence period of India. It talks about the government’s plans for all-around economic development. In the undivided Bombay province a proposal was put forth by the government to build dams across the rivers Lokmata and Sadmata in the northern part of Gujarat. The dams were to have a capacity of 4700 million cu. ft. of water and facilitate irrigation of 92000 acres of land in 3 districts. The control levels of dams were as mentioned in exhibit 1. However construction of the dams would result in submerging of 10500 acres of land belonging to some 20 villages. Therefore the government also had the task of resettlement of the villagers and providing new sources of livelihood, thus adding direct cost to the cost of constructing the dam. But the government was determined about the feasibility of the project. However the control level of the dams would also lead to submergence of the temple of Bhavnath. This was an old temple which was considered highly sacred and connected with Bhrugu Rishi. Also, the temple attracted many tourists at the annual fair. Due to this reason the Government faced stiff opposition from the villagers. The government agreed to take steps to protect the temple. However the final proposal had some changes made like the new control levels as mentioned in exhibit 2, raised capacity i. . 5700 million cu. ft. But this would lead to complete submergence of the temple and was inevitably met with adamant resistance from the people. Bombay was divided in 1960 and Gujarat was formed. The newly formed government was keenly interested in the dam scheme but the opposition still persisted. PROBLEM The central problem is the government’s dilemma to go with Plan I or Plan II. Plan I: The dam would be c onstructed with control levels as in exhibit 1. The capacity would be 4700 million cu. ft. The revenues generated would be Rs. 15. 83 lakhs annually. The temple would be saved from submergence and provided with an all-weather access. Plan II: The dam would be constructed with control levels as in exhibit 2. The capacity would be 5700 million cu. ft and higher revenues would be generated. The temple would be completely submerged. OBJECTIVES †¢ Economic Development: The government wants to go for all-round economic development and thus provide better future prospects for the nation. †¢ Increase in Irrigation Potential: The government wants to bring more area under irrigation and thus earn higher revenues. Resettlement of Villagers: The government has to shift the villagers to a new location and also provide them with source of livelihood. †¢ Protection of Temple: The government would not want to hurt the religious sentiments of the villagers by submerging the temple and thus affect its vote bank. OPTIONS 1. The government can build the dams with reduced control levels as in exhibit 1. The capacity would be 4700 millio n cu. ft and it would facilitate irrigation of 92900 acres of land. This would help generate revenues of Rs. 15. 83 lakhs annually. 2. The government can build the dams with higher control levels as in exhibit 2. The capacity would be 5700 million cu. ft and thus higher revenue generation. 3. The government can opt for slight reduction in the reservoir capacity i. e. below what was initially proposed. As the villagers realise the potential benefits due to the dam, the government can increase the reservoir capacity by expanding laterally. EVALUATION 1. If the government goes with Option 1, it would be able to protect the temple from submerging. This would also respect the religious sentiments of the villagers. Also, the government would be able to cash in on the revenues generated from the tourists arriving at the temple during the annual fair. The vote bank of the government would also be secured. Also there would be lesser shifting of the villagers required. However the reduced dam capacity would mean lower irrigation potential and lower revenues generated. 2. If the government goes with Option 2, it would be able to increase the irrigation potential and thus generate higher revenues. It would also mean better economic development for the village as well as the nation. However, as it would imply submergence of the temple, there would be stiff resistance from the villagers. The government would also have to face the ire of opposition parties. This would in turn hurt their vote bank. Submergence of the temple would also stop the inflow of the revenues generated through tourism. There would also be additional burden on the government for shifting of the villagers and arranging their source of livelihood. 3. If the government goes with Option 3, they would be saving the temple from submergence. There would also be lesser number of villages getting submerged. This would save the government costs of resettlement of the villagers. As there is sufficient irrigation potential, the government can in future increase the irrigation potential by expanding the reservoir laterally. However revenues generated would be less and so would be agricultural production. ACTION PLAN The government should go with Option 1. The dam would facilitate the irrigation of 92900 acres of land and generate annual revenues of Rs. 15. 83 lakhs. The government would also be able to collect the revenues generated from the tourists visiting the temple. This plan would protect the temple from submergence. As a result the government’s action would be viewed in good faith by the villagers as their religious sentiments would be taken care of. This plan will also help the government to stay in power. It would win them the support from nearby villages too.