BJP MP on hunger strike over dam construction in UP

Bahraich (UP), May 18: BJP MP Savitribai Phule has gone on hunger strike here over the ongoing construction of a dam on Sarayu river in the district, deprecating that consent of project affected people was not taken before its start and demanding that cases against the villagers who protested earlier be dropped.

The Bahraich MP had earlier raised apprehension that 68 villages would get marooned if the 11 km-long dam was constructed on the river near Gopia Barrage.

Supporters of Phule claimed that even though 24 hours have passed since she started her protest at the dam site yesterday, "no official" of the district administration visited her.

"The dam should be constructed after obtaining the consent of villagers and cases lodged against them during protests staged early this month should be revoked. This is the demand of the MP," local BJP leader Ram Niwas Singh claimed.

PTI