The Gosikhurd project on Wainganga River, in Maharastra’s eastern Vidarva region, was approved in 1982 and launched by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1984. The project was declared as ‘National Irrigation Project’ by the government of India [1]. The project is still incomplete and there are gross irregularities in rehabilitation of effected people, environmental clearances, financial embezzlement. More than 1 lakh population is affected by construction of the dam [4]. An action committee of Gosikhurd irrigation project-affected persons took out protest march for the delay in rehabilitation of dam oustees time to time [3]. Gosikhurd dam authorities have started blocking the water in 2012 are facing a stiff resistance from the project affected persons (PAPS) who are refusing to vacate despite the threat of submergence. Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation has started blocking water and this may leave hundreds of people still living in submergence area without a shelter during this rainy season. Authorities have made no proper arrangement for rehabilitation of the oustees. The oustees are demanding that water damming should begin only after they are fully rehabilitated and given their rightful compensation [2]. |