Indian Villagers Hold Water Funerals to Protest River-Linking Project

Farmers and tribal villagers in central India staged symbolic “water funerals” on the banks of the Narmada River on Thursday to protest the government‑backed Narmada–Godavari river‑linking scheme. The ceremony, carried out in the village of Khadki near the town of Nandurbar, saw participants draping their homes in white cloth, chanting slogans and pouring water into the river in a ritual meant to mourn the loss of their ancestral lands and livelihoods.

The river‑linking project, which aims to divert water from the Narmada to drought‑prone districts in Maharashtra and Gujarat, has been criticised by local communities for threatening to flood villages, submerge farmlands, and disrupt the region’s fragile ecosystem. Protesters argue that the project will displace thousands, erode soil fertility, and undermine the traditional fishing and farming practices that sustain their families. The water funerals were organised by a coalition of farmer unions and tribal rights groups, who have demanded that the government conduct a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment before proceeding.

Government officials have said that the project is essential for regional development and that mitigation measures will be implemented to protect affected communities. However, the protests have drawn national attention to the tensions between large‑scale infrastructure development and the rights of indigenous and rural populations. The water funerals underscore the urgency of addressing these concerns before the project moves forward.