A government official who visited Gunjari a couple of days ago was met by angry villagers. Sensing the mood of the locals the administration chose not to use force to evict them. Police have been posted in the area as the standoff between them, the NBA and the Government continues.

“They are simply not ready for talks,” said PWD Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, deputed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to end the stalemate.

“The villagers cannot be given the rehabilitation package because they are technically not affected by the dam project,” said an NVDA official. The Government has instead offered to compensate the villagers under Section 64 of the Revenue Book Circular, besides giving them plots under the Indira Awas Yojana.