Consequent upon the letter of Collector, Sundargarh for sanction of additional funds for payment of compensation to land losers of Talcher-Bimlagarh NBG (New Broad Gauge) rail link project under Sundargarh district, core member of Talcher- Bimlagarh Rail Action Committee (TBRAC) Bimal Bisi has urged the State Government through a letter to the CM to act soon as the project is already delayed for long.
According to Bisi, he has requested the State Government, Railway authority and district administration many times to give priority to the Talcher-Bimlagarh NBG Rail link like Khurda-Balangir rail project as it is a 60 years’ old project. He said he was thankful that from Talcher 55km of the railway line was in progress. “But it is unfortunate that from the Bimlagarh side till date land acquisition has not been completed. At this stage if both sides work will not start then it will take another 10 years to complete,” said Bisi.
He further mentioned that the Railways has sanctioned Rs 222 crore for acquisition of 248 acres of private land in Deogarh and Sundargarh districts for the project. Despite this, due to the inefficiency of the State Government, the land acquisition has been delayed.Consequently, the project is delayed further.
Now the Collector, Sundargarh vide letter no-235/Res /dt.22/03/2022 to Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) and copy to Principal Secretary to Commerce and Transport, Special Secretary,Commerce and Transport, RDC Northern Division and Sub Collector Bonai has urged for enhanced rate of compensation and sanction of additional amount of Rs 35.68 crore for land losers of 28 villages of Sundargarh district at Rs 5.33 lakh per acre, said Bisi.
He further mentioned that when he discussed the issue with the Railways authority of East Coast Railway, they replied that the additional amount of Rs 35.68 crore is available but the Railways need a demand letter from the Sundargarh Collector. Bisi lamented that the Collector, Sundargarh has not yet received the required estimate sanction by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.