‘We don’t want to leave’: Why Adivasis are resisting the Ken-Betwa river link
Currently, affected villagers who were 18 years or older in February 2024 are eligible to receive Rs 12.5 lakh in compensation and Rs 5 lakh per acre of acquired land. However, the villagers say, ‘We want a forest for our forest, land for our land, water for our water, and a village for our village’
Daudhan village in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region lay in the evening shadows as construction work on the Daudhan dam paused. Munni Lal, a resident, conversed with his neighbors inside his bakhri mud house. Just 500 meters away, the dam, a key component of the Ken-Betwa river-linking project, continued its construction. The project aims to divert water from the Ken river to the Betwa river for irrigation and flood control.
However, the Adivasi communities living along the Ken and Betwa rivers are vehemently opposing the project. They fear the dam will disrupt their traditional way of life, affect their livelihoods, and displace them from their ancestral lands. The Adivasis assert, "We don't want to leave," their resistance rooted in deep-seated cultural and economic concerns.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
