Braving rain and waterlogging, M.P. dam project oustees protest for 16th day
Several houses in villages affected by the project have been inundated, with two to three feet of water entering some homes and damaging grain, clothes, and household articles, the protesters claimed
Protesters in Madhya Pradesh's Panna district have been staging a 16-day protest against the Majhgawan dam project, despite adverse weather conditions. The Majhgawan dam project has displaced residents in several villages, with residents reporting that their homes have been inundated by water, damaging belongings and crops.
The sit-in, led by Jai Kisan Sangathan, a pro-farmer organisation, is demanding immediate compensation and rehabilitation for affected families. The protesters allege that the administration is conducting fresh surveys and distributing compensation, but the delays are causing distress. Some families have been compensated with a token amount of ₹5 lakh, while the declared package is ₹12.5 lakh.
The protesters have also raised concerns under Section 38 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, as houses were submerged before the completion of compensation and rehabilitation.
Several women and children have fallen ill due to prolonged exposure to water and rain, with some suffering from wounds and skin-related problems. Despite the challenging conditions, the protest continues, with agitators using chita (funeral pyre demonstration) and jal satyagraha (protest by standing in water) as their means of expression. The protesters insist that they are not against development, but they will not accept the denial of their legal rights as tribal families.
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