MP govt to ensure Narmada water supply, rail network in tribal

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said the state government is committed to bring the Narmada river water and a rail network to the tribal-dominated Jhabua district.

The state government has sanctioned funds to develop infrastructure for the Narmada water supply to Jhabua and the Centre will provide assistance to lay a rail line in the district, he said.

Several places in the region are not yet connected with the rail network.

Chouhan alleged that the previous Congress government in the state only made hollow promises on these issues, but never did anything concrete.

"Our government has not only laid a strong road network, but also ensured abundant power supply in villages of the state," he said addressing a rally here late last night during his ongoing 'Janashirwad Yatra', ahead of Assembly polls due later this year.

"We have already sanctioned Rs 2,280 crore for bringing the Narmada water through a pipeline to this tribal region and the Union government will spend Rs 1,147 crore on laying rail network in the area," Chouhan said.

The chief minister also said that a 'Janjatiya Adhikar Sabha' (tribal rights body) will be set up in each tribal village of the state to amicably resolve disputes which are not of very serious nature.

"Police will not intervene in such matters and the tribal people will have the right to sort out their problems and disputes through this body. Police will intervene only in serious matters," he said.

Chouhan had embarked on the Janashirwad yatra on July 14 to cover all 230 Assembly constituencies in the state.

A senior BJP leader said the yatra was earlier scheduled to culminate on September 25, on the occasion of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya's birth anniversary, but the party has now decided to extend it further.