Stir against MP river-linking continues, officials say efforts on to open talks

Bhopal: A day after clashes broke out between tribals, mostly women, and the police during a mock funeral protest against the proposed Ken-Betwa river linking project, the agitation in MP's Chhatarpur district continued on Friday despite the authorities stepping up efforts to calm the situation and open talks with displaced villagers.Collector Paras Jaiswal told mediapersons that all efforts were being made to engage the affected villagers and talk them into calling off the protest.Officials were said to be in touch with the villagers, holding discussions with representatives of tribal communities and farmers who have been protesting over alleged irregularities in compensation and delays in rehabilitation.Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under BNS section 163 remained in force in parts of the area as a precaution.Hundreds of distressed tribal women lay on mock funeral pyres on Thursday, as part of a ‘chita andolan' against the river linking project.Tensions spiralled later on Thursday after a team led by additional collector Namah Shivay Arjaria reached the protest site near the Daudhan dam to speak to villagers.According to officials, the team was surrounded by a large crowd of protesters, forcing the officials to retreat.Sources said the officials had to run for safety, leaving behind personal belongings.At the centre of the protest are allegations that compensation meant for land acquired under the project has not reached many families in full.The protesters, mostly tribal women, continued their sit-in at the dam site, repeating their "all or nothing" demand for fair compensation and proper rehabilitation.Activist Amit Bhatnagar, who is leading the agitation, warned the administration that the fight for compensation has now turned into a ‘people's movement'.He said any attempt to crush the protest would lead to a stronger resistance, adding that the agitation will continue till all displaced families get full justice.In response, the district administration said most demands have already been addressed, warning that strict action would be taken against anyone trying to take the law into their own hands.The protesting villagers alleged earlier that they tried to march towards Delhi to raise their concerns over the project but were stopped on the way. They also alleged food and water supplies to their settlements were disrupted, a claim officials denied.The Ken-Betwa Link Project, one of the country's major river-linking plans, involves construction of the Daudhan dam and is aimed at providing water for irrigation and drinking purposes to parts of Bundelkhand.