Villagers stand in water to protest; demand proper rehab

Nearly 25 persons, including women, have been agitating here since yesterday by standing in water above their waist level, as the dam backwater has reached their village.

The villagers are against the move of filling up the Indira Sagar dam up to 262.13 meters as permitted by the Supreme Court and have alleged that they had not been given proper rehabilitation package, official sources said today.

The water level in the dam has so far reached 259-260 meter, which has resulted in the submergence of land near Khardala, they said.

Due to the rise in the water level, another village Bhiaswada in Harda district is facing the threat of submergence, sources said.

However, the district administration has warned the protesters to leave the place and also assured them that their grievances would be looked into. In case they did not give up, they would be forcibly lifted from the place, sources said.

The district administration has asked nearly 141 persons from 18 families to leave the village and shift to the rehabilitation site but they are protesting and demanded proper rehabilitation, the sources said.

Officials said that if the need arises, the agitators would be shifted to safer places forcibly.

Those people who are staging 'Jal Satyagraha', are being identified and it is being ascertained whether they are outsiders or being motivated by some other persons to stage the protest, officials added.

Meanwhile, Additional Director (rehabilitation) Vivek Singh said that compensation has already been given to the affected persons and in case few people are left then there is a provision for them as well.