Nasik, May 30: A day after the "warning fast" by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activists here demanding rehabilitation of people affected by Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP), its leader Medha Patkar began her indefinite fast in front of the Revenue Commissioner's office today. Patkar resorted to the fast after all their efforts to rehabilitate people affected by SSP proved futile, NBA spokesman Pratibha Shinde told a news agency. The activists had been on an indefinite dharna in front of the Revenue Commissionerate since Monday demanding rehabilitation before increasing the dam height by 100 metres.

Andolan leaders including Patkar had talks with Revenue Commissioner Vijay Mathankar but no amicable settlement was reached, Shinde said.
Around 500 NBA activists had observed the "warning fast" yesterday but as it elicited no response from the state government, Patkar began her indefinite fast, she added.

The permission to increase the dam's height had been given even though the tribals were not rehabilitated, she said and claimed that more than 1,000 families were under threat of submergence during monsoons.
Earlier, talking to newspersons, Patkar alleged that the state government had not considered the demands of tribals seriously and gave the green signal for increasing the dam height. Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had cheated tribals on the issue, she alleged. Bureau Report