Tribal Communities Reignite Protests Over Controversial River Link Project
Three years after assurances of its cancellation, the contentious Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project has once again ignited widespread fury among Gujarat’s tribal communities. Revelations of its Detailed Project Report (DPR) being presented in Parliament shattered the fragile calm, leading to massive demonstrations in Dharampur, Valsad, where villagers and political leaders alike have vowed unwavering resistance against potential displacement. This project, which could submerge scores of villages and dislocate hundreds of thousands, underscores a persistent conflict between ambitious development agendas and fundamental indigenous rights. [10]