On September 11 peaceful protesters engaged in the Jal Satyagrah at Indira Sagar dam were forcefully dragged out of the water and arrested by over 800 police officers from Madhya Pradesh district. Villagers in the India Sagar catchment area have lost their homes and agricultural land. Many have not been identified by the government to begin a process of rehabilitation. The government has been raising water levels at the dam, despite under-utilizing the hydropower that is already generated. Three weeks ago, desperate villagers took a final stand by entering the newly flooded areas, intent on staying there until either the government lowered the water, gave them land for their land and compensated them, or their death. This drastic move came after the government ignored directions of the Supreme Court (who gave a controversial judgment that the government should give “as much as possible", but the government did not comply with that limited order) and the Grievance Redressal Authority. At Omkareshwar dam, where media attention was concentrated, the Chief Minister gave a promise to compensate the Jal Satyagrahis and made plans to lower the water levels. However, nothing has been given in writing, and the waterlogged land is prime breeding ground for disease. At Indira Sagar, the protesting villagers were dragged out of the water, through abuse of police powers under IPC 144 (allowing dispersal of gatherings of four or more during emergencies), and the media were blocked from reporting the issue as it was happening, to stop interventions by local or international authorities. The forceful arrests followed threatening statements issued by Kailash Vijayvargiya, a state cabinet minister, indicating government collusion. The protestors have now been released on bail.
