Bhopal, May 11: The Ken-Betwa project, part of the river linking initiative in Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region, is currently underway. The Congress party has launched a strong attack on the state government, alleging atrocities against tribal communities. In response, the BJP has questioned the intentions of the Congress party.
The Ken-Betwa project, the first of its kind in India, aims to transform the Bundelkhand region. Land acquisition for the project is in progress, but it has sparked protests in various areas.
Congress state president Jitu Patwari visited Panna to meet with protesters opposing the land acquisition. He toured the Vishramganj and Balupur areas, engaging with tribal families and farmers affected by the Ken-Betwa project.
During his visit, Patwari listened to the villagers’ concerns regarding displacement, inadequate compensation, housing crises, and issues arising from dam construction. He assured them that the Congress party would vigorously fight for their rights, dignity, and justice.
Patwari emphasized that he was there to hear their problems, echoing the message of Rahul Gandhi, who prioritizes the voices of tribals, farmers, and marginalized communities. He stated that if necessary, Gandhi would personally visit the affected families.
Patwari demanded complete information from administrative officials about the actual number of affected families, the status of compensation, and rehabilitation efforts. He argued that if a family has three adult sons, each should be recognized as a separate family to ensure their rights.
He criticized the BJP government for offering a mere one lakh rupees as compensation for housing, noting that this amount is insufficient to purchase even a small plot of land in the area, where plots typically cost over ten lakhs. He described this as injustice to tribal and poor families.
Patwari pointed out that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav claims to provide four times the compensation for land acquisition on large platforms, yet in the Ken-Betwa project, tribal land is being acquired at throwaway prices. He accused the BJP government of continuing to deprive tribals of their water, forests, and land in the 21st century.
BJP spokesperson Ajay Singh Yadav questioned Congress’s protests, suggesting that their opposition to land acquisition for irrigation projects hinders development in Bundelkhand. He recalled that before 2003, when Congress was in power, Bundelkhand was known for drought, unemployment, and migration. Farmers’ fields were parched, youth had to leave their villages for jobs, and there was no solid irrigation system.
He asserted that the BJP government has worked to change the landscape and fate of Bundelkhand. Irrigation coverage has increased, water structures have expanded, farmers’ incomes have risen, and new job opportunities have emerged in the region. Areas that once faced water scarcity now have irrigation water reaching the fields.
Yadav concluded that Congress and Jitu Patwari’s opposition reflects their discontent with Bundelkhand’s development. The BJP government remains committed to farmers’ welfare, regional development, and securing a better future for the next generations.
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