Police Clear Ken-Betwa Link Project Protest Site in Madhya Pradesh
A 15-day protest against the Ken-Betwa Link project and other development works in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district ended on Sunday after the local police cleared the demonstration site. The authorities removed the protesters from the area and transported them back to their respective villages.
The demonstration, which began on July 3, was staged on the banks of the Barana River near Kupi village and was led largely by tribal women. During the two-week agitation, protesters engaged in various forms of demonstration, including a jal satyagraha, a chita (funeral pyre) satyagraha, and a symbolic faansi satyagraha. The movement was spearheaded by leader Amit Bhatnagar, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 11 days.
Police Intervention and Safety Concerns
According to protest leader Divya Ahirwar, a large contingent of police personnel arrived at the demonstration site around 5 am on Sunday. Ahirwar alleged that the police detained Bhatnagar and several other protesters before he could address the media regarding an alleged ₹400 crore corruption scandal linked to the project.
However, the Madhya Pradesh Police denied making any arrests or detentions. Additional Superintendent of Police Aditya Patle stated that the demonstrators were transported back to their native villages in buses. Protesters from Panna district were sent back there, while those from Chhatarpur and nearby areas were dropped off at their respective villages.
Police officials explained that the intervention was necessary because the protesters were demonstrating beneath an under-construction bridge and inside the river, where rising water levels posed a grave safety risk. Patle also noted that the protesters were residents of Panna district and should have staged their demonstration there, arguing they had no connection to the Chhatarpur site. Additionally, officials stated that Bhatnagar was hospitalized due to his worsening health condition following his prolonged hunger strike.
Demands and Environmental Concerns
The tribal protesters have been demanding that the administration implement the Ken-Betwa project in accordance with the law while safeguarding the constitutional rights of affected individuals. Their concerns focus on land acquisition, rehabilitation, environmental safeguards, and alleged irregularities in the project's execution.
The Ken-Betwa Link project is India's first river interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan. It is designed to transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River to provide irrigation and drinking water to the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, which spans parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Despite its intended benefits, the project has faced opposition from affected families and environmental groups. Critics have raised concerns over the displacement of local families, environmental degradation, and potential harm to local wildlife, particularly within the Panna Tiger Reserve.
The local administration has rejected all allegations of irregularities, maintaining that the development project is being implemented in strict accordance with the law. Officials emphasized that the Ken-Betwa Link Project is of national importance and will significantly improve irrigation, drinking water supply, and overall regional development.
