Dungri Dam Project – On Friday, a massive Mahapanchayat was held in Jodli village of Sawai Madhopur district to protest against the Dungri Dam being built under the Ram Jal Setu Link Project (Revised PKC-ERCP). During the meeting, farmers and villagers demanded the government cancel the construction of the Dungri Dam and threatened a “do-or-die” fight against it. A large number of people participated in the Mahapanchayat, giving the government a 10-day ultimatum to cancel the dam.
Government Clarification: Only 16 Villages Will Be Affected, Not 72
Following the Mahapanchayat, the government clarified its position regarding the number of villages affected by the Dungri Dam. Water Resources Minister Suresh Rawat, Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, and Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham held a press conference at the Secretariat and informed that a total of 16 villages will be affected by the Dungri Dam, not 72 as claimed.
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70 to 100 percent of the population in the affected villages will be affected
The minister said that 70 to 100 percent of the population in nine of the 16 villages will be affected by the Dungri Dam. However, the government has also proposed to rehabilitate these villages. Under this, a plan has been made to rehabilitate the farmers and families of the affected villages in new settlements.
Minister Kirodi Lal Meena said, “According to the survey report prepared in 2017, only 16 villages will be affected by the Dungri Dam, which includes 4,387 houses and buildings.” He also explained that the dam’s filling level, which was previously 230 meters, has now been reduced to 227.50 meters, and the filling capacity has also been reduced from 2100 million cubic meters to 1588 MCM.
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Opposition and False Rumors
The three ministers also alleged that some political leaders were misleading farmers and spreading false rumors that 76 villages would be affected. They stated that these leaders were inciting farmers solely for political gain and that this was disrupting law and order.
Minister Bedham warned these leaders and appealed to farmers not to fall prey to these rumors. He said,
“The government is ready for open dialogue with farmers on this project. If any farmer delegation wishes, we are willing to discuss the issue.”