Mumbai: Protesters Jumped On State Mantralaya Building’s Safety Net Yesterday, Alleging Unfulfilled Promises At Upper Vardha Dam Site

Mumbai, 30th August 2023: In a dramatic turn of events, aggrieved individuals impacted by the Upper Vardha Dam Infrastructure project voiced their frustration yesterday by staging a striking protest at the state Mantralaya building. The incident unfolded yesterday, on August 29, as demonstrators from Morshi in Amravati district took to jumping onto safety nets installed on the second floor of the building. The uproar eventually subsided after police intervention led to the apprehension of the protesters.

The roots of the uproar lie in the unmet commitments made by the state government during the construction of the Upper Vardha Dam in the Morshi region back in 1972. At that point, assurances of employment opportunities and appropriate compensation were given to the local populace affected by the dam project. However, the beneficiaries assert that these pledges have remained unfulfilled for the past 45 years. “Governments have come and gone, yet none have deigned to acknowledge our plight,” said one of the protestors.

The agitation has been going on for the last 105 days in front of the Tehsil office of Morshi. Accusing the government of protracted inaction, the demonstrators emphasise that their demands have been on display for over three months. Regrettably, no minister has extended recognition to their concerns, nor has the state government provided any redressal during this period. Venting their mounting frustration, yesterday, the protesters stormed directly into the Mantralaya building, launching a striking protest.

The protest unfolded in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who were in the Mantralaya building yesterday. More than 30 dam-affected people plunged onto the safety nets, shouting slogans about their demands.

In 1972, the government took the land of the locals for this dam. The government acquired a large amount of land to build the dam. However, the dam victims say that they have not received any compensation to date. Also, the government had promised them jobs, but they did not get any job yet.