BHOPAL (Madhya Pradesh, India): Hundreds of tribal farmers, most of them women, staged an unusual protest in Chhatarpur district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh by lying on mock funeral pyres to oppose the proposed Ken-Betwa river linking project, signaling their determination to resist the plan.
The demonstration, described by participants as a “chita andolan,” saw women, some holding small children, lying on symbolic pyres to convey that they would continue their protest “till their last breath.” Visuals from the site showed rows of protesters participating in the act, which quickly drew attention.
Tensions escalated when police attempted to disperse the gathering, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel. The police eventually retreated amid resistance from the demonstrators. Protesters alleged harassment by the administration and said they would not withdraw until their demands were addressed.
At the centre of the agitation is the Ken-Betwa river linking project, a major inter-basin water transfer plan intended to channel water from the Ken river to the Betwa basin. The project includes construction of the Daudhan dam and a canal network along with associated infrastructure.
Despite these projected benefits, local tribal communities have raised concerns over displacement, loss of land and forest rights, and the long-term impact on their livelihoods. Many of the affected families depend on agriculture and forest resources, making them particularly vulnerable to large infrastructure projects. Protesters also claimed restrictions had been imposed in the area, including limits on movement and access to basic necessities.
Opposition to large dam and river-linking projects has a long history in India, especially among indigenous and rural communities. Such projects often promise irrigation, drinking water, and economic development, but have also faced criticism over environmental damage and the displacement of vulnerable populations. Similar protests have been reported in other parts of the country where tribal groups fear submergence of villages and loss of traditional lands.
The protest in Chhatarpur reflects continuing tensions between development initiatives and local rights, particularly in ecologically sensitive and tribal-dominated regions. While authorities maintain that the Ken-Betwa project is crucial for addressing water scarcity in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the resistance on the ground indicates unresolved concerns over its social and environmental costs.
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