What Happened at RLP's 'Jojri Bachao Rally' After Talks with Balotra Collector?

Jaipur, Aug 18 (NationPress) The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party’s (RLP) Jojri Bachao Maha Rally, held in the Doli village of Balotra, concluded in the early hours of Monday following extensive late-night discussions with the district administration about the contaminated water issue. Under the leadership of MP Hanuman Beniwal, the rally attracted thousands who voiced their discontent against the administration, demanding prompt action.

At approximately 1:30 a.m., Beniwal, along with hundreds of supporters, proceeded from Doli to the Balotra Collectorate, arriving at 2 a.m. and surrounding the premises. The protest persisted throughout the night, which drew the attention of Collector Sushil Kumar Yadav and SP Ramesh Kumar. After a half-hour of discussions, the officials consented to cease the inflow of polluted water and commence preparations for a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to ensure a long-term solution. This agreement led to Beniwal declaring the end of the indefinite protest around 4 a.m.

During the protest, Beniwal criticized local leadership, asserting, “If Barmer-Balotra leaders had the courage, I wouldn’t need to gherao the Collectorate myself.” He accused previous governments of inaction, alleging they provided only “lollipops and speeches.”

“We wanted the administration to intervene, yet they disregarded the crisis. Residents in about 60-70 villages, including Doli, Araba, and Kalyanpur, are suffering from mosquito-borne diseases and lack access to clean water. Women and children are the most affected,” he stated.

Beniwal highlighted that the movement has expanded beyond Doli, evolving into a statewide struggle for clean water. He pledged to persist until the region is liberated from polluted water and called for the rejuvenation of all rivers, not only the Jojri. For years, contaminated water from textile factories in Jodhpur has been flowing into surrounding villages, including Doli, Araba, and Kalyanpur, severely impacting agriculture and safe drinking water access.

Despite numerous appeals from villagers, no sustainable solution was provided, leading the RLP to escalate the situation through mass mobilization.

In the late-night discussions, the administration committed to immediately halt the dirty water inflow, discontinue the current contaminated water supply, and initiate the DPR process for permanent solutions.

Additionally, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister by the RLP delegation. Beniwal concluded by reiterating his party’s dedication: “RLP will continue to advocate for every caste and class -- from Barmer to Chambal, from Ganganagar to Dungarpur. Balotra is our stronghold, and we won’t allow our people to suffer.”