FRIDAY, 14
DECEMBER 2012 21:53
PNS | BALANGIR
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Hundreds of people turned up here on
Thursday to support the indefinite hunger strike called by the Lower Suktel
Action Committee (LSAC) demanding immediate execution of the Lower Suktel
Irrigation Project. The LSAC also received a shot in its arm when many
intellectuals and members of several social organisations from across the
district joined the stir that entered its second day.
District Collector Debraj Mishra held discussions with the LSAC members
and requested them to withdraw the agitation. He assured them spillway
construction work for the project would start soon. Chief Engineer in
charge of the project BC Mishra said, “I along with the secretary of Relief and
Rehabilitation went to project area villages and held discussions with the
people, and I am hopeful that the work would start soon.” Later, Mishra held
talks with the agitating LSAC members.
As the health conditions of LSAC president Gopalji Panigrahi and another
LSAC member Gopal Acharya deteriorated, they were shifted from the hunger strike
site to the District Headquarters Hospital here. The youth wing of the
LSAC gave a 48-hour Balangir Bandh call from Friday. Members of the youth had
earlier staged a Rasta Roko before the district Collectorate from 10 am to
11am.
Kantabanji Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja has declared that he would
the agitation on Saturday. “We’ll continue our fast-unto-death agitation
till the State Government agrees to start project work after fulfilling all our
demands including adequate compensation for the would-be displaced,” said an
LSAC member. When the Government claims to be pro-farmer, why is it reluctant
in compensating people,” he wondered.
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