Medha Patkar begins indefinite hunger strike

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar went on an indefinite hunger strike from today, demanding that the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam not be raised and the displaced people be rehabilitated.

''The Prime Minister had promised to make a statement on the issue of further increasing the height of the dam last evening, but till today we have not heard anything from him. Therefore, we have decided to take the extreme step of going on an indefinite fast," she told reporters here.

Two NBA activists Jamsigh Nargave and Bhagwatibai Jarpuria have joined Ms Patkar, who has been sitting on a dharna here for nearly two weeks against increasing the height of the dam.

She came down heavily on the decision of the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to raise the height of the dam from the present 110 metres to 121 metres.

''If the construction work for increasing the height of the dam is started, over 35,000 people will lose their land by the month of June. Yet, most of the villagers living along the Narmada river bank have not been provided alternative land holdings,'' she alleged.

Criticising the current rehabilitation scheme for the affected villagers, Ms Patkar said they must be provided with alternative sources of livelihood.

Since reaching the capital on March 17, the activists of the NBA have met all the ministries concerned as well as President A P J Abdul Kalam, but no action has been taken, she said.

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