Barelas and Bhilalas inhabit Matli village, of Madhya Pradesh, located deep inside the Satpuras. As land suitable for cultivation is extremely limited in these areas, cattle wealth plays an important role in the economy of tribal life here. An eight-km long road is to connect Matli to Ikkalwara via Upla Phata, all tribal villages that come under Rajpur block of Barwani, one of the poorest districts in the country. The construction of this road began nearly three months back. By now they have destroyed a good part of the pastureland. Unlawful digging is not restricted to the soil alone. The contractor's men are also quarrying stone gravels (locally referred to as Murum) from the nearby hillock in the village and transporting these to the road construction site on a regular basis. And all this is being done without the Panchayat's permission and without paying any compensation to the villagers.