Hundreds of people started an indefinite protest against the closing of the dam's sluice gate.
On the banks of the Narmada River, at the Rajghat, protests have reignited decade old issue of rehabilitation for those affected by Gujarat's Sardar Sarovar dam.
From Saturday, hundreds of people along with social activists including Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar started an indefinite protest against the closing of the dam's sluice gate and filling it to full reserve capacity which will raise the height of the dam from existing 122 metres to 139 metres. Thousands of families fear that because of this, their homes and belongings may be washed away.
One of the protesters, 60-year-old Shanta Bai of Pipri village in Barwani district is just 1 km from the Narmada River and once the Sardar Sarovar is filled to full reserve capacity, her house and 12 acres of land along with over 100 other houses will be submerged.
"We were told initially that our land will be submerged. After that, they did not do anything. And then they approved the raising of water level by 17 metres and my village will be completely submerged. We have got no compensation," Shanta Bai said.
But the Barwani administration claimed they are doing their bit to rehabilitate the villagers.
Barwani Collector Tejaswi Naik told NDTV, "The agitators have not sought our permission but we have made our arrangements. As far as rehabilitation is concerned we have been going to villages and have been doing things. From November, we are launching Navami Narmade Scheme."
The Narmada Bachao Andolan group, which has been fighting for the villagers, claims that if the Sardar Sarovar is filled to 139 metres, 244 villages in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra will be inundated. This will affect over 45,000 families who have not got complete compensation.
Medha Patkar told NDTV, "The government cannot submerge people's land without their consent and proper rehabilitation and can only procure land after following the new law. We want to see that the gates of dam should not be shut until people are properly rehabilitated. And for that we are on an indefinite strike."