Impasse over Suktel project ends

Impasse over Suktel project ends

Sunday, 23 December 2012 19:55

PNS | BHUBANESWAR

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The stalemate over implementation of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project in Balangir district virtually ended on Saturday with both the State Government and the delegates of the Lower Suktel Action Committee (LSAC) reaching a broad agreement over a majority of the 11-point charter of demands at a high-level meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik.

However, delegates of people belonging to 11 villages to be submerged due to the project did not attend the meeting and continued their agitation in their area.

The meeting was attended, among others, by a six-member of the LSAC led by its president Gopalji Panigrahi, Balangir MLA AU Singh Deo, Water Resources Department Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and senior officials of the Revenue Department. The Chief Secretary said it was decided to begin implementation of the project, conceived 12 years ago, within a fortnight. The Balangir district Collector has been asked to initiate the process.

He said the demands of the pro-project LSAC were discussed threadbare and there was a broad consensus on a number of issues while some issues having legal complicacies are to be referred to the Law Department for examination. The meeting ended on a positive note, he said.

On the issues relating to the problems of the possible submerged villages, the Chief Secretary said Water Resources Secretary Mohapatra was asked to visit the area and hold negotiations with the agitating people for facilitating and address their demands. During his visit, Mohapatra would also hold further talks with the LSAC members, he said.

The Chief Secretary said the Government is committed to undertake rehabilitation of the displaced families as per the existing law.

LSAC president Panigrahi said the meeting was partially successful. He hoped the Government would stick to its words. The people of the district, among other things, are demanding revaluation of the land acquired for the purpose and payment of rehabilitation assistance at one go. The demand could not be accepted as it was not covered under the Land Acquisition Act and R&R policy.

The project was estimated at Rs 217.13 crore as per the 1996 price level. Later, as per the 2009 price level, the cost was revised to Rs 1,041.80 crore. The project would provide irrigation facilities to 31,830 hectares of land. Out of it, 23,500 hectares of land would be brought under irrigation in the first phase.

As per a survey conducted in 2009, as many as 9,212 families would be affected due to the project. At present a socioeconomic survey is being conducted in the proposed submerged areas. Till today, the survey has almost been completed in 14 villages and 5,309 families have been identified.