Madhya Pradesh Police removes Medha Patkar and 11 others from fast location

Medha Patkar and 11 other people who were observing an indefinite fast since the last 12 days at Chikhalda have been taken away by the Madhya Pradesh Police to hospitals.

Patkar and her associates have been on a hunger strike since July 27. They have demanded proper resettlement and rehabilitation of the people who were displaced due to the Sardar Sarovar Project. The social activist founded the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan'.

All of them, including Patkar, were taken to hospitals bythe administration as their health was deteriorating, Indore Division's Commissioner Sanjay Dube told PTI, without disclosing which hospitals.

They were taken in different ambulances, he said, adding six policemen suffered injuries in the process.             

Thousands of families along the Narmada river in MP's Barwani, Dhar, Alirajpur and Khargone districts are at risk of getting displaced with the closing of gates of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in neighbouring Gujarat and the resultant rise in water level in its catchment area.       

The Centre recently gave the nod for closing the gates.

 The water level in the catchment area reached 121.90 metres today, nearing the danger mark set at 123 metres. The dam is likely to be filled to its capacity by August-end.

Yesterday, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti had urged 62-year-old Patkar to end the hunger strike while expressing concern over her health.      

Patkar, in response, had urged the minister to support her in saving Narmada river.