FIR against dam activists

police have booked villagers and anti-dam activists who disrupted a public hearing in Uttarakhands Chamoli
district on October 13. The state pollution control board (spcb) had organized the hearing in Kulsari village to get
public views on the 250 MW Devsari hydroelectric project on the Pinder river, a tributary of Alakananda.

The project, proposed by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, will displace 491 families. Angry villagers and activists did not allow the public hearing to
proceed. Being familiar with the experience of villagers in nearby areas where dams have been built, people were so angry they did not even let
the officials survey their land, said Vimal Bhai of Matu Jan Sangathan, a grassroots organization. He is one of the 11 persons named in the first
information report (fir) registered by the area police.Activists said the state government is under pressure to arrest
them and suppress peoples voice.