Illegal construction of an Aadi Bandh (check-dam supporting river embankment) along the Brahmani river has added to the woes of floods-hit villagers of Brahmabarada in Jajpur district.
According to reports, the river embankment had developed a 200-meter breach at Brahmabarada during the recent floods. Due to inundation, villagers lost crops on hundreds of acres of land. They expected to undertake Rabi cultivation and meet the loss to some extent.
However, a greedy contractor in connivance with engineers has constructed a supporting embankment on acres of private lands in an aim to get a tender for repair work of the breached embankment and earn a lucrative amount. Ironically, the concerned Government authorities have not taken consent of landowners for the purpose.
Now, the floods-affected land owners, who had expected that a layer of alluvial soil would help them get a good Rabi crop, have started moving from pillar to the post for restoring land and getting compensation for the loss. It is learnt that the Aadi Bandh work is being done under the direct guidance of the Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, Jaraka and the Odisha Construction Corporation (OCC).
Now, the landowners have threatened to take to the streets if they aren’t paid adequate compensation and given back land at the earliest.