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● LIVE Updated 49m ago · 10 sources tracked

As rising waters flood homes and temples, villagers protest India's $87 billion river-linking project

Hundreds of tribal residents in Ajaygarh, India, are protesting an $87 billion government project to link the country's rivers as rising waters flood local homes and temples. Protesters, including Bitti Bai Kondar, staged mock funerals and stood knee-deep in the Ken River to oppose the construction. Villagers state that the government is taking their land and water without offering adequate relocation options, declaring they would rather die than leave without proper compensation. Civil rights groups have also raised concerns regarding police violence in areas affected by the Ken-Betwa project.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ Hundreds of tribal residents are protesting an $87 billion government project to link India's rivers.
  • ✓ Bitti Bai Kondar and other protesters stood knee-deep in the Ken River with mud smeared on their faces.
  • ✓ Rising water from work on the project has flooded local homes and temples in Ajaygarh, India.
  • ✓ Protesters have shown defiance by lying on mock funeral pyres.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 10 independent reporting domains (100% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Villagers staged mock funerals and stood knee-deep in the Ken River to protest the $87 billion river-linking project after rising waters flooded their homes and temples.

Live updates

  1. Villagers Protest India River-Linking Project

    Hundreds of tribal residents in Ajaygarh, India, are protesting an $87 billion government project to link the country's rivers as rising waters flood local homes and temples. Protesters, including Bitti Bai Kondar, staged mock funerals and stood knee-deep in the Ken River to oppose the construction. Villagers state that the government is taking their land and water without offering adequate relocation options, declaring they would rather die than leave without proper compensation. Civil rights groups have also raised concerns regarding police violence in areas affected by the Ken-Betwa project.

    Why it matters

    The protests center on the massive Ken-Betwa river-linking initiative, which aims to divert water from water-surplus rivers to drought-prone regions. However, the construction work has begun submerging ancestral lands, homes, and temples, forcing long-time residents to confront displacement. Civil rights organisations have urged action following reports of police violence against residents in the project-affected areas.

    What is confirmed

    • Hundreds of tribal residents are protesting an $87 billion government project to link India's rivers.
    • Bitti Bai Kondar and other protesters stood knee-deep in the Ken River with mud smeared on their faces.
    • Rising water from work on the project has flooded local homes and temples in Ajaygarh, India.
    • Protesters have shown defiance by lying on mock funeral pyres.
    • Civil rights groups have urged action over police violence in Ken-Betwa project-affected areas.

    What to watch next

    • Government responses or policy adjustments regarding compensation and relocation for displaced villagers
    • Further actions or interventions by civil rights groups concerning police violence in project-affected areas
    Sources used for this update (12)
    1. Reuters — As rising waters flood homes and temples, villagers protest India's $87 billion river-linking project
    2. Yahoo — Protesters stage mock funerals over India's $87 bln river-linking plan
    3. The Hindu — Tested by mud and water, in Bundelkhand
    4. Counterview — Civil rights groups urge action over police violence in Ken-Betwa project-affected areas
    5. Bilyonaryo Business — As rising waters flood homes and temples, villagers protest $87 billion river-linking project
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    8. www.fbcnews.com.fj — Ra children forced to carry water to school
    9. www.thestar.com.my — As rising waters flood homes and temples, villagers protest India's $87 billion river-linking project | The Star
    10. www.yahoo.com — As rising waters flood homes and temples, villagers protest ...
    11. www.straitstimes.com — As floods hit villages, residents protest against India’s US ...
    12. www.fbcnews.com.fj — As rising waters flood homes and temples, villagers protest ...
    confidence 100%
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