Oustees of Beda dam start 'Jal Satyagraha' in Madhya Pradesh

INDORE: The residents of Udaipur village of Kharogne district of Madhya Pradesh, which is facing submergence due to increase in water level of Beda dam, starts 'Jal Satyagraha' from Friday to oppose the increase in height of the dam from 300 to 314 metres.
Villagers alleged that government is forcefully vacating the village and water level of the dam is being increased without completing the rehabilitation of dam oustees as per the guideline of Supreme Court.
"The government is making false claim in the court that only 4 houses are remained to be rehabilitated in the submergence area of Beda Dam, in reality only in Udaipur village more than 104 families are waiting for rehabilitation," said state co-ordinator of AAP and dam activist Alok Agrawal.
He said all the gates of the dam have been closed and slowly government is increasing the water level in backwater areas of the dam. "We urge government to first complete the rehabilitation then increase the water level," said Agrawal.
Dam oustees had filed a petition before Madhya Pradesh High Court on which court had stayed the increase in water level of Beda dam on August 14. Later on the petition of state government HC vacated the stay on August 18.
For last few days activist of AAP and NBA are protesting against the government's move to increase water level of dam. On Thursday police arrested senior functionary of AAP Chitroopa Palit, who was protesting against government, on Friday police arrest NBA activist Ajay Goswami. To oppose this AAP activist submitted a memorandum to administration in Khargone and Indore.
Protestors alleged that in past few days administration has razed the houses of villagers in some of the villages. "Supreme Court has set rehabilitation of dam oustees as pre-condition for raising the dam height. Since the SC order in 2011 more than 300 affected farmers had submitted their application for rehabilitation but nothing was done and now they increasing water level of dam," said Agrawal.