Bowing before villagers, protesting in neck-deep water of the Narmada for the last 17 days, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced reduction in the water level of Omkareshwar dam to 189 metres. Talking to media persons, the Chief Minister said, "Taking into account the present situation, the state government has decided to reduce the water level to 189 metres from the current 190.5 metres." However, expressing concern, Chouhan said, "Reducing the water level would affect the irrigation process and 20,000 hectares of land will not get water. Decreasing the water level will also lead to loss of 120 megawatt electricity." The Chief Minister also announced that the affected villagers would be given land-for-land within 90 days. It has been decided that villagers who return 50 per cent of the compensation allotted to them by the state government earlier, would be given land and rehabilitated. He said some elements had been creating trouble for long and halting development projects. The agitation, under the aegis of Narmada Bachao Andolan, had begun about a fortnight back. Earlier, Chouhan had direct dialogue with affected farmers of Ghoghalgaon, Kewla Buzurg, Aikhand and Kamankhera villages at his residence here on Monday. Farmers put forth their views freely. Chouhan said that larger interests of the state were linked with the Narmada Valley. At the same time, the State Government was committed to protecting the interests of affected people. Commerce and Industries Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Minister of State for Narmada Valley Development, Omkareshwar MLA Lokendra Singh Tomar and Chief Secretary R Parasuram were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, a Central team of observers reached the site of Omkareshwar dam protests for a survey. However, there was no word from Chouhan regarding the Indira Sagar dam, where also a group of villagers are protesting in neck-deep water over similar demands.