In early 80’s. Development project was launched in the Narmada Valley of central India. The project consisted of 30 big dams, 135 medium sized and about 3 thousand small damns to be constructed on Narmada. Sardar Sarovar Project in the Madhya Pradesh was the biggest and important projects. Narmada Bachao Andolan was started in 1988-1989. Narmada Bachao Andolan opposed the damn project and questioned several ongoing development projects in the country:

1. The construction of the Narmada dam requires 245 to get submerged. It also required about two and a half lakh people from these villages in the construction.

2. It demanded that there should be a cost benefit analysis of the major development of projects due to construction of dams submerged around those 245 villages and relocation of the 2and half lakh population of the village.

3. The movement demanded proper rehabilitation of all those people who were affected due the construction of these projects.

4. The movement also questioned the nature of decision making process to be in a framing of Mega-scale development projects.

5. The NBA also demanded participation of local people in decision making and should also have effective control over natural resources.

6. Ultimately the government and the judiciary accepted the right to rehabilitation. The comprehensive National Rehabilitation Policy was formed by the government in 2003.