BHOPAL, August 13: When the nation will be celebrating 50 years of independence on August 15, those displaced for the construction of the Bargi dam over a decade ago will start an indefinite hunger strike at Jabalpur to protest against the State government's failure to fulfil its commitments to them.

The Bargi oustees led by Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar had launched an agitation at Bijasan village of Mandla district in August last year.

The then chief secretary S C Behar had promised to join their agitation if their grievances were not redressed within a set time-frame. However, Behar retired early this year and was reappointed advisor to the Chief Minister. He has since lost interest in the Bargi issue.

A delegation of the bargi oustees led by Medha Patkar met the present chief secretary K S Sharma on July 5 this year to remind him of the promises made by his predecessor. Sharma reportedly asked them to give him 15 days' time.

The oustees have also had several meetings with Chief Minister Digvijay Singh over the years. Their main demand is that the water level at Bargi dam on December 15 should not be allowed to go higher than 418 metres. Besides, they want the government to allot the land, which is submerged during rains, to them so that they are able to cultivate it later on.

The oustees have prepared, with the help of experts, micro-plans for 35 affected villages. The government however, has not evinced interest in this, nor made any fund allocation for providing basic facilities in these villages. There are no schools here and drinking water is scarce.

Though the government had allocated Rs 5 crore for their rehabilitation during 1996-97, only Rs 93.36 lakh was spent for the cause.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.