Bhubaneswar 
Showdown
likely in Suktel project area on Sep 27
Showdown
likely in Suktel project area on Sep 27
FRIDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER
2012 22:59
SUDHIR MISHRA |
BALANGIR
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Even as the day of commencement of spillway work of the Lower
Suktel Irrigation Project on September 27 is approaching nearer, a
showdown between the Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad and the project
implementing authorities is on the cards with both sides sticking to their
respective stands.
The Parishd has declared the project
area as a “prohibited zone” while the authorities have expressed their
“readiness” to start the project work on the appointed day.
Uday Singh Thakur of the Lower Suktel
Budi Anchal Sangram Parisad said, “We have been opposing construction of a dam
over river Lower Suktel since the beginning as it would submerge large tracts
of fertile agricultural land and forests, besides displacement of a large
number of people and loss of their livelihoods.”
He further said, “Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik listened to our viewpoints in 2007 and assured us to send the
Secretary of the Water Resources Department to hold further discussions with
us. But even after five years have elapsed, nobody has turned up and discussed
the issues with us. We have declared the project area as a “prohibited zone”
and will not allow Government officials to the area from September.26.”
On the other hand, Chief Engineer of
Lower Suktel Irrigation Project RC Padhee said, “We have decided to start the
project work on September 27. Those opposing the project are only a ‘few
people’. Unless the project work is started, the fate of the project will be
virtually doomed and the Central Government will not give any further extension
for it.”
According to sources, president of
Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad Ghunu Sahu was invited for talks with the project
officials. However, he declined to make any commitment unilaterally, saying
that the Parishad as a whole would take a final decision.
It may be noted that the irrigation
project since the beginning has been mired in controversies over various issues
like financial irregularities and lack of adequate information. Even the
authorities seem to lack any specific plans to settle the total number of
displaced people.
As per the initial report, a total of
4,600 families would be displaced, for which initial plans for their
rehabilitation were made. But according to sources, a recent survey indicated
that more than 10,000 families are going to be displaced, and so far there
seems to be absence of any plan for settlement of such an increased number of
people.
According to reports, people from
outside the area have purchased lands in the villages which have been
designated as “either affected” or “submerged” due to the project.
Asked to comment on any compensatory
afforestation programme prepared to compensate the forests going to be
submerged, Chief Engineer Padhee advised this correspondent to contact the
Forest Department to get the answer.
In an another interesting
development, the Lower Suktel Action Committee, which withdrew its 20-day-long
indefinite fast in favour of implementation of the project after getting
assurance of the departmental Special Secretary for talks between the committee
leaders and the Chief Minister in Bhubneshwar, is yet to receive any invitation
till date.
“We have not received any invitation
so far for talks in Bhubneshwar,” said Aun Mishra of the committee.
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