Farmers of the Kissannagar area in Cuttack district took to the streets recently demanding discharge of stagnated rainwater from hundreds of acres of farmland.
While a large group of peasants coming from different villages staged a protest meeting at the Kissannagar tehils, another group blocked the Cuttack-Paradip road at Sompur chhack.
The agitators alleged that paddy crops on thousands of acres of land in the Baraha Pata would be damaged if stagnated rainwater is not discharged to the nearby rivulet.
“Water flow in the rivulet has been stopped due to weeds. Despite repeated requests, the administration is not clearing them. As a result, the Pata (big stretch of farmland) is submerged in a few spells of rains,” farmers who staged the protest said.
Stating that the rivulet has been illegally leased out for fishing at Bodhapur, the farmers demanded that the leasing be cancelled soon and the water sources be dredged for free flow of water.
Additional District Magistrate Bijay Kumar Khandayatray, who had visited Kissannagar to attend the district Collector’s grievances cell, talked to agitating farmers and visited agriculture fields. He directed the irrigation officials to take early steps for discharge of water and to cancel the lease of the rivulet.
Among thers Asif All, Niranjan Bhoi, Jalil Khan, Seigh Iliyas and Somnath Sahoo were present.
A large number of people belonging to Arilo and Sompur gram panchayats led by Surya Narayan Sahoo, Baman Sahoo and Chiranjibi Khanduala blocked the Cuttack-Paradip road for two hours on Monday. They moved from the road only after SP Radha Binod Panigrahi came to them and assured them of steps in favour of their demands.