The Hindu : Front Page : Medha Patkar goes on indefinite hunger strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 30, 2006

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Front Page

Medha Patkar goes on indefinite hunger strike

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar on Wednesday went on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding that the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam not be raised and the displaced people be rehabilitated.

Stating that they had resorted to it as they had not heard from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ms. Patkar said: "Though the Prime Minister promised to make a statement on the issue by Tuesday evening, we have not heard anything from him. Therefore, we have decided to take the extreme step."

Two NBA activists Jamsigh Nargave and Bhagwatibai Jarpuria joined Ms. Patkar, who has been sitting on a dharna in the capital for nearly two weeks now.

Criticises decision

Criticising the decision of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to raise the dam's height, Ms. Patkar said: "If the construction work to increase the dam's height starts, over 35,000 people will lose their land by June."

"Most villagers living along the river bank have not been provided alternative land holdings yet. Since reaching the capital on March 17, NBA activists have met all authorities concerned, but no action has been taken," she alleged.

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