Villagers affected by the controversial Tehri hydel project, held demonstrations in Dehradun demanding a special package for dam oustees as Uttaranchal celeberated its fifth birthday on Wednesday.

Residents of Chham and Mali Deval villages, which would be submerged shortly in Bhagirathi reservoir, took to the streets demanding adequate compensation for those who would be uprooted from the area.

"The state government must announce a special package for Tehri dam oustees," said Jot Singh Bist, who led the protest at Chham.

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In Dehradun, people affected by the project began an indefinite sit-in, demanding basic amenities in the wake of submergence of all connecting bridges in the reservoir.

Nearly 125 villages along the historic old Tehri town would be submerged in the next one or two months, following closure of the last diversion tunnel of the Tehri dam on October 29.

Meanwhile, a series of functions were held to mark the day with Chief Minister N D Tiwari spelling out government's priorities to construct roads and bridges and lay power lines across the state. He said his government's endeavour would be to make Uttaranchal a developed state.

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