Villagers demand adequate relief for flood-affected

Jhabua, MP, Aug 25 (UNI) In response to the call given by Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, hundreds of villagers from 29 villages in this district's Alirajpur tahsil staged a demonstration before the district collector's office.

The agitators alleged that relief given to the flood-affected was a mere eyewash.

District Collector Rajkumar Pathak heard the grievances of people and assured relief and availability of other facilities.

Tight security arrangements was in place in view of the protest and the agitators were not allowed to enter the premises of the Collector's office.

Meanwhile, Ms Patkar told reporters here that about 1,100 people in 18 villages of the district had been badly affected and no help was being provided by the district administration in name of relief.

She alleged that the Madhya Pradesh Government was snatching bread and butter of people instead of providing them relief.

Villagers said they were forced to sleep under open sky where fear of snakes and other reptiles always loomed large. There was no proper arrangement in relief camps.

UNI XC-PS 1611