Will the Odisha Government come to the rescue of about 25,000 people living in the cut off area of the Balimela reservoir in the Maoist hotbed of Malkangiri districtIJ
The people living in the 151 villages in the cut off area are facing innumerable problems since August 21 after the Department of Water Resources (DoWR) stopped motor launch service, the only mode of transportation, to the area in view of the Maoist threat. The DoWR had put six motor launches, of which four were operational.
However, these four launches are now anchored and boatmen refuse to ferry villagers. The area is a den of the Maoists and encircled by water from three sides while the only land route is connected to Andhra Pradesh.
The people in the area mostly depend on the motor launch for their day-to-day living. “The people are facing scarcity of essential commodities like rice and kerosene. The people who are sick are unable to go to the nearby Chitrakonda hospital due to lack of launch service,” said Sanjiv Khara, a local resident.
According to Khara, some women in the 151 villages are pregnant and unable to reach the hospital. Some children in the area also need treatment as many are suffering from fever, he said.
“We are caught between the devil and the deep sea. If we defy the Maoist order, they will kill us. And if we go by their directive, our children and women will die without treatment. What should we doIJ” a resident said.
The issue was raised in the State Assembly by leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh and Chitrakonda MlA Mamata Madhi. Both drew attention of the Government and the Speaker seeking early steps to rescue the people of the 151 villages trapped in the cutoff area.
“The Chief Minister must intervene and take steps to rescue the people trapped there,” Madhi said.