The people of the Basantpur gram panchayat in Dhankauda block staged dharna in front of the office of the RDC (ND) here demanding return of unutilised land acquired for the Chiplima power channel, a part of the Hirakud Dam Project.

The agitators said that the land for this purpose was acquired in the year 1946. However, the land was lying unutilised as the idea of the project was dropped in 1951-52. “The Government had acquired around 7,000 acres of land of Basantpur, Gadmunda, Talpadar, Satijor, Rengalipali, Balgudia, Padera villages of the Basantpur gram panchayat for the project. But the land is lying unutilised. And we have been cultivating the land by paying encroachment fine since long,” said an agitator.

All we want is the Government return our land and provide us permanent patta, he said further. “The Government had acquired the land for the Chiplima power channel-cum-subsidiary reservoir. As per the law, if a project is shelved, the land acquired for the purpose should be returned to the original land owners. But instead of returning our land, the Government is utilising the land for the other project,” alleged another agitator.

“Since the land is no more required for the power channel-cum-subsidiary reservoir, the Government should now return the land to its original owners,” demanded another villager who had joined the agitation. The agitator also submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the RDC. RDC office Under Secretary Prashant Pattnaik received the memorandum submitted by the agitators. “We will discuss over the demand of the people. Steps will be taken as per law,” said Pattnaik.