Dahod dam affected await fair compensation

VADODARA: The land losers of the Machhan Nala Dam in Dahod district are still fighting to get a fair compensation for the land acquired from them for the project. A section of affected persons held protests at the Dahod district collectorate to protest the compensation that was awarded to them way back in 1982.
The issue has been raised on several occasions by the project affected persons.The families claim that the overall compensation worked out to only Rs 2,000 per person and was insufficient.
Vadodara-based labour activist Bharat Pathak who was in Dahod on Monday for the protests said that the issue had been going on since years. "In all 49 land losers lost 400 acres of land. They have been raising the issue since several years now, but nothing has come out of it," he said.
Pathak said that one of the protestors Bhima Pandor was on a fast unto death since May 1. "He is very old and his health could have failed and in wake of this, we had to take up the issue," he said. On Monday, the protestors closed the gate of the Dahod district collectorate forcing those visiting it and even officers to wait outside for about an hour to enter it.
Pathak pointed out that the revenue, forest and irrigation departments were sympathetic to the demands of the land losers, but were helpless. "The district administration too has written to the state government in this regard. According to them, only the cabinet can take a decision on this once compensation has already been awarded," said Pathak.
He added that he would now be taking up the matter with the state government. In the meantime, he said, Pandor had been convinced to withdraw his agitation.