Probable eviction awaits villagers along Narmada river

After Supreme Court ordered residents in the Narmada valley's submerged area to vacate by July 31, district authorities are working on a war footing to evict over 8,000 people in Barwani, Dhar, Khargone and Alirajpur districts who have stayed put. The authorities have sought 5,000 police personnel for ensuring peaceful eviction of over 8,000 people after July 31. But the residents are protesting the move. Rehabilitation measures have fallen short of expectations and the villagers are staging protests and relay hunger-strike, demanding more. Many villagers claim that they were given a paltry compensation for their houses in 2002 and are demanding higher reimbursements.