The Kanpur irrigation project over the Baitarani river in Keonjhar district which had been delayed for nearly one and a half years due to agitation of the affected people in demand of proper compensation and rehabilitation might be delayed further if the demands of the land oustees are not met.
This has come to light on Thursday last when people including women vehemently opposed the entry of Additional Tehsildar Barbil Abhishek Panda to the project area for starting the work.
He was accompanied by Government officials besides Champua IIC Sumeet Soren and two platoons of police force. Six JCP machines had been deployed to level ground in Murusuan panchayat under Joda block to start the project.
The agitating villagers complained that most of the affected families have not been paid their displaced package (DP) for rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced.
Former Joda block Chairman, Congress leader and also a native of Murusuan panchayat Purna Chandra Naik said 15 to 17 families out of total 76 families of Dhobakuchda village have not received their DP so far.
And for the rest families who have moved out to stay in Shankarpur RR colony and Naradpur and Angulia, the two cluster villages developed by the villagers by purchasing the land, there is no school for education of the children. The school building which started two years back is not complete till now.
Similarly, the people are facing a lot of difficulties for lack traditional infrastructure like pond and funeral ground for common use.
However, some days back, when Purna, himself a RPDS member along with other affected people, had raised these issues before Sub- Collector, Champua Parul Patwari, she told that all the community infrastructure development will be done after the people move out of the project area.
After the villagers protested, the officials returned but it is demanded that the Government should make a proper plan for early completion the of the dream project of the district.