With the State Government allegedly forcefully taking lands of farmers without giving compensations for construction of ‘unusual’ 60ft width and six-metre height river embankment in Genguti river in Badachana block in Jajpur district, two farmers of the locality along with social activist Sudhansu Sekhar Deo met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi recently seeking his intervention.
Two farmers Gouranga Bal and Amiya Baral along with Deo on January 29 had met Gandhi in New Delhi and apprised him about the injustice being meted out to them
The alleged that the administration has been acquiring farming land and resorted to mass cutting of trees of nearly 15 villages residing neat the right side of the river embankment from Haripur to Chandiya without giving them compensation.
The aggrieved farmers too questioned the need of such a huge embankment.
“The embankment will cover 15 villages, Majhipada, Chandia, Achyuta Basanta, Gadajit, Asia gad, Dumdum, Dakhina kula, Khadianga, Mahadeipur, Kundala, Khaicha, Dandaharipur, Kuta Haripur, Benapur and Padmanavpur of five gram panchayats of Badachana block. There is no necessity of such a huge embankment at the cost of poor farmers’ agriculture land and trees,” said Deo.
“Rahul Gandhi listened to the grievances of the two farmers. Agriculture lands of nearly 1,000 farmers will be affected. Gandhi has assured us to visit the area to put pressure on the Government very soon,” said Deo.
He said Gandhi also telephoned PCC President Prasad Harichandan in their presence and asked him to take up the issue. Gandhi assured the farmers to undertake a padayatra in the area soon.