Demonstrators agitating while standing in water of Omkareshwar irrigation project have refused State Government’s offer for fertile land for the third time on Tuesday. Five representatives of agitators demanding land for land were shown land in Hoshangabad district by officers of Narmada Valley Development Authority, NHDC and Hoshangabad district administration on Tuesday.
After inspection, officers urged the representatives to accept fertile land at Peelikarar village in Hoshangabad district. Representatives of submergence-affected persons declined to accept the land. It is noteworthy that land of Babai area is considered highly fertile.
Jal Satyagrahis had demanded land for land after returning earlier compensation and special rehabilitation package amounts provided to submergence-affected persons. On this demand, the State Government had allotted two hectare land per eligible person from its land bank. This land was refused citing various reasons. later in 2013 also, 213 submergence-affected persons had refused to accept amount payable under Rs225 crore special package for affected farmers and continued demand of land for land.
Right from beginning, State’s Chief Secretary and later, Minister of State of Narmada Valley Development and Principal Secretary have been talking to representatives of affected persons. They were assured that the Government will offer them other alternative for fertile land.
In this context, they were shown arable fertile land in Narsinghpur district on May 6, but they refused the offer citing impractical reasons. As third alternative, representatives of submergence-affected persons were taken to see agriculture land in Babai tehsil of Hoshangabad district on Tuesday. Following refusal of even this land by representatives, team of officers has returned.