MP dam oustees want Chouhan to meet them and fulfil demands

Protesters staging 'Jalsatyagaraha' in three districts of Madhya Pradesh against non-fulfilment of their demands today asserted they will not give up their agitation till Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visits them and resolves the issues raised by them.
The oustees of Indira Sagar Project (ISP), built on river Narmada near here, are staging 'Jalsatyagraha' at Badkhalia, Unwa and Mel Pipalia in Khandwa, Harda and Dewas districts, respectively since the last 12 days under the banner of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA).
The protesters, who are standing in water as part of their stir, said if ruling BJP wants to win from these areas in the upcoming Assembly polls, then Chouhan must visit them and assure to fulfil their demands.

However, sources in the administration said the Chouhan Government is unlikely to make any promise to the project-affected people ahead of the polls.
Once the model code of conduct for Assembly polls comes into the force, the Government would not be able to do anything regarding their demands, they said.
The protesters are demanding adequate compensation, land in lieu of land acquired for the project and a commitment to not to raise the dam's water level above 260 meters.

At present, the water level in ISP, a multi-purpose dam in Khandwa district, is 262.13 meters, which has resulted in submergence of large tracts of land in the area.

Sukma Bai and Leela Bai, who are part of the water protest, said unless Chouhan visits them to resolve their problems, they will not give up their agitation.
Meanwhile, NBA leader Alok Agrawal said since the protesters are in water for almost two weeks now, their skin has got damaged and developed wounds, from which blood is oozing out.