Uttarakhand: Villagers protest in Narendra Nagar against rail project, panic due to cracks in houses

People in Narendranagar are worried due to the blasting being done to build the tunnel in the railway project. Due to blasting, cracks are being seen in people’s houses and water from sources has also disappeared due to blasting. Due to which there is anger among the people. After Baldiyakhan, now people of Atali, Singtali, Vyasi and Kundya have also come out on the streets against the railway project.

Villagers protest against rail project
Due to the damage caused by blasting, the wind of agitation is spreading in Dogi area. The villagers of Atali, Singtali, Vyasi and Kundya villages of Patti Dogi of Narendranagar development block have opened a front against the Railway Development Corporation in Vyasi since January 23 regarding the problems of drinking water etc. arising from the construction of the railway tunnel.

According to the villagers, due to heavy blasting in the construction of railway tunnel, the water sources of the said villages were becoming thin for the last two years. But due to heavy blasting, water has suddenly disappeared from the water source. Along with this, cracks are also being seen in the houses of many people.

Villagers’ protest continues for the third day
The protest by the villagers under the leadership of Sardar Singh Pundir, a well-known social worker of the area and Union Secretary of UKD, regarding providing drinking water and other issues, continues for the third day. Even after two days have passed since the protest, no responsible official has yet reached the spot to listen to the problems of the villagers. Due to this the anger of the villagers is increasing even more.

Villagers stopped tunnel construction work
The agitating villagers have stopped the tunnel construction work. Along with this, they have demanded that they will not allow the tunnel construction work to be done until their problems are solved. The villagers clearly say that they are not opposing the railway project. But the huge loss being incurred by the project should be compensated in the form of full compensation.

Warning of blocking Rishikesh-Badrinath highway
The villagers demand that till a permanent arrangement for drinking water is made, drinking water should be provided for them from Ganga. 100% fair compensation should be given for the houses. Atali village should be shifted to Vyasi. Only seven villagers have demanded that blasting be stopped during tunnel construction. The villagers have warned of blocking the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at Vyasi if their demands are not met.