Thousands rally in Dharampur against Par-Tapi-Narmada link project

Time of India

a day ago

Surat: Thousands of protesters, including tribal communities from across south Gujarat, thronged Dharampur in Valsad on Thursday to oppose the Par-Tapi-Narmada river link project.
Organized by the Dam Sangharsh Samiti, marched peacefully under the watch of a heavy police deployment.
The protest was led by Vansda Congress MLA Anant Patel and Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda, who addressed the crowd alongside other leaders.
The rally echoed the sentiments of a similar movement in 2022, which erupted following budgetary allocations for the project announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The 2022 protests led to the suspension of the project after Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel declared its cancellation.
However, recent allegations by Anant Patel that the govt has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the river link have reignited the movement. In response to these claims, state govt spokesperson cabinet minister Rushikesh Patel asserted on Wednesday that the project remains suspended.
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Valsad BJP MP Dhaval Patel further supported this stance by releasing a letter from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, confirming the project's cancellation.
He accused certain Congress leaders of misleading the tribal community for political gain.
Despite the govt's assurances, the rally in Dharampur highlights the deep-seated concerns and mistrust among the tribal communities regarding the project's potential impact on their lands and livelihoods.
The disciplined and peaceful nature of the protest underscores the community's resolve to protect their interests.
"It is now clear that the DPR was prepared in 2017 by the BJP govt. We do not believe the verbal assurances of suspension, and the govt should release a white paper declaring that the project will never take place," said Anant Patel.
It is claimed by Congress leaders that the river linking project could potentially impact over 50,000 families. If the proposed dams are constructed connecting the rivers, several villages may face submersion in the dam waters.
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