On 22 August 2023, residents from the displaced colonies in the submerged areas of the Tankali Dam project in Ramganj Mandi staged a protest by encircling the SDM (Sub-District Magistrate) office. In this demonstration, residents from seven affected villages in the submerged area blocked the main gate of the SDM office, staging a sit-in protest. These villagers had submitted a memorandum with 18 demands to the SDM just three days ago, and they had warned of a protest to be held on August 22nd to press for their demands. Fulfilling their promise, villagers arrived at the SDM office in tractor-trolleys, with a significant number of women and men participating in the demonstration. The demonstrators have jammed the gate in response to their unmet demands.
Officials are currently engaged in discussions with the protesters at the protest site. The police have also been deployed at the protest site to maintain law and order.
The key demand of the villagers is related to the allocation of land by the Irrigation Department for the seven villages in the submerged area of the Tankali Dam project. They argue that the colonies created for them lack basic facilities, leading to severe hardships.
Despite having submitted several memoranda in the past, their demands have not been addressed. The protesters have declared that they will continue their sit-in protest until a satisfactory resolution is reached, or they receive a written assurance of time-bound action on their demands.
