The jal satyagraha of Indira Sagar dam-affected people on a call given by Narmada Bachao Ando-lan ended on Sunday with the announcement that the struggle would now be further intensified.
The protesters, who were protesting in neck-deep water at different places in Khandwa, Harda and Dewas districts, have declared that they would come out on the streets after October 15. During next 10 days, as per the September 6 order of the Supreme Court, all rehabilitation and resettlement related grievances will be compiled through rehabilitation right camps and will be submitted to Narmada Valley Development Authority, senior NBA activist Alok Agarwal said.
The future course of struggle was announced on Sunday by senior NBA leader Chittaroopa Palit from Hanifabad village in Harda district and by Mr. Agarwal in village Mallud. The Indira Sagar dam affected families started their jal satyagraha on September 1 with the demand for proper rehabilitation. On the first day of the protest, hundreds of affected persons were arrested by imposing Section 144 at different villages in Khandwa, Harda and Dewas districts. Ms Chittaroopa Palit, along with many project-affected people, was also detained in jail.
The NBA leaders have come out heavily against Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In a statement they have said that during the recent Bhopal jan adhikar satyagraha and the current jal satyagraha of the Indira Sagar dam-affected people, the chief minister, who claims to be a benefactor of common people, did not come even once to meet the displaced.