The opposition political parties rallied behind the agitators of Kharasrota Banchao Sangram Samiti(KBSS), who have been staging a dharna for last three days demanding that scrapping a mega pipe water project in Kharasrota river in Kendrapada district.
A team of BJP leaders led by State secretary Pruthiviraj Harichandan visited the project site at Barunadiha and later discussed with the KBSS agitators at the agitation site. Harichandan asked when there were multiple sources to provide water to Bhadrak district, why the State Government was hell bent on getting water from such a place which was deficient in ground water.
The BJP also condemned the barbaric act of police towards the people and illegal arrest of locals.Besides Prithiviraj Harichandan, senior BJP leaders Jatin Mohanty, Pravati Parida, Pinki Pradhan, Bishnu Das, Smruti Pattnaik, Anita Priyadarshini and others were in the delegation.
Similarly, Congress, CPI(M),CPI,CPI(ML) and other organisations, under the fold of Milita Birodhi Dal, organised a mass demonstration on Tuesday in front of the district Collectorate.
Senior Congress leaders , Panchanan Kanungo,Ganeswar Behera, Gyana Beura, Debendranath Sharma, Anshuman Mohanty, Chinmaya Behura, CPI(M) district secretary Gayadhar Dhal , Umesh singh , CPI leader Ramani Ranjan Routray, Babaji Dhal, CPI(ML) leader Sanjib Kumar Rout among others participated in the mass demonstration.
The Milita Birodhi Dal demanded the State Government to take steps for inviting the protestors for a bi-lateral discussion over the project, set up an in-stream storage at the tail end of Kharasrota, construct the Aul-Rajkanika pipe water project on a priority basis, stop police action against the agitators and release the local protestors ,who were in jail.
If the State Government does not consider the demands, the Milita Birodhi Dal will intensify its agitation in the whole district, warned Ganeswar Behera.
Later, a six members Congress team visited the project site and discussed with the agitating members of the KBSS.