The ongoing fast unto death in front of the district collectorate by the sea erosion-prone villagers of Satabhaya reached its fourth day on Thursday.These villagers are demanding the completion of the works of the rehabilitation colony at Bagapatia soon.
Several leaders of different political parties, including BJD, Congress and AAP, visited the agitation venue to express their solidarity with the agitating villagers. Ruling BJD MlA of Rajnagar Alekha Jena, also visited the place and urged the villagers to withdraw their stir.
He assured them that a high level meeting would be organized on February 1 by the Revenue Department on expediting the Biju Nagar Rehabilitation project. However, the agitators did not relent and were continuing their fast.
It may be noted that a few agitators have been hospitalized as their condition deteriorated due to the fast.These villagers have been constantly under threat from the sea, which is creating large scale devastation in the settlements near the bank by eroding the land.
The villagers badly need to be relocated to a safer place. But despite the Bijunagar rehabilitation colony which has been planned to relocate the villagers, the authorities have been too callous in executing the project work resulting in slowing down of the colony work.
