Tuesday,
28 August 2012 23:47
SUDHIR
MISHRA | BALANGIR
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Members
of the Lower Suktel Action Committee led by its president Gopalji Panigrahi
launched fast-unto-death before the District Collectorate from Monday demanding
immediate commencement of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project work.
“We
are on indefinite fast demanding fulfilment of our 11-point charter of demands.
As our earlier agitation and rallies failed to evoke any response, we are
resorting to this course of action with seven persons going on fast on Monday.
Once their conditions deteriorate, other people will join the stir,” Panigrahi
said.
Besides
Panigrahi, Anuraag Nahak, Kahnu Charan Mishra, Uddhab Chhatria, Maheshwar Seth,
Durga Prasad Bhoi and Sudaam Dharuua went on fast.
President
of Samajwadi Party’s Balangir unit Arun Mishra said, “We carried out agitation
for 10 days in June, and after that the IG of Police Northern Range and the RDC
Northern Division came and held talks with us assuring us to recommend all our
demands to the Government to take necessary steps. However, nothing has
happened so far. We demand immediate commencement of the irrigation project and
adequate compensation to displaced people.”
The
Lower Suktel Irrigation Project was approved in 1996-97 at an estimated project
cost of Rs 217crore.
Chief
Minister Naveen Patnaik laid its foundation-stone in November 2001 eight km
away from the actual dam project area due to stiff opposition by the locals.
Meanwhile, the project cost has escalated to Rs 1,042 crore.
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