Pro-Suktel demo marks RDC visit in Balangir SATURDAY, 02 MARCH 2013 17:33

 Bhubaneswar  Pro-Suktel demo marks RDC visit in Balangir

Pro-Suktel demo marks RDC visit in Balangir

SATURDAY, 02 MARCH 2013 17:33

SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR

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The agitation in favour of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project was revived on Friday with members of the Lower Suktel Action Committee opposing the visit of newly-appointed RDC (Northern) G Srininvas here to make a review of various development works.

As the RDC arrived at the DRDA office, action committee members led by its president Gopalji Panigrahi, Santosh Singh Deo and Girish Singh Deo raised slogans against his visit. The activists wanted a discussion with the RDC and sought to know the reason for non-commencement of the Lower Suktel Project. However, they were taken into preventive custody by the police.

District Collector Debraj Mishra told his officials not to allow media persons to meeting. However, ADM Sadhab Minz told reporters that the RDC has come to Balangir on his first visit and he would review the ongoing development programmes and acquaint himself with the issues of the district, including Lower Suktel.

“We were arrested by the police while agitating peacefully before the DRDA office, which is undemocratic,” said Gopalji Panigrahi to the media.

Interestingly, to sensitise the villagers about the Lower Suktel Project, a Lower Suktel Rath was launched on Friday and it moved in the town before being taken to rural areas in the afternoon.

Later in the evening, RDC Srinivas invited a six-member delegation of the Lower Suktel Action Committee to discuss the issue. “We informed the RDC about the project. He was unaware of the developments. The RDC requested us to put on hold the proposed agitation from March 12. Unless the district administration starts project work by the 12th of this month, we will resume our agitation.” said Panigrahi.