The senior officials of the district administration along with police force on Wednesday faced protest from the locals of Bagapatia when they went to carry out developmental and road work in 48.50 acres of private land meant for rehabilitating the sea erosion-prone Satabhaya villagers at the Bijunagar resettlement colony in Bagapatia.
The land owners and locals along with their children staged a road blockade not letting the officials enter into the area demanding record of rights and complete settlement of dues.
On Wednesday, Sub Collector Kanhu Charan Dhir, Additional Sub Collector Gagan Sahu, tehsildar-cum- executive magistrate, Khirod Behera, along with Rajnagar police station IIC Bijay Kumar Mallick and a platoon of police force had gone to the site taking earth digging machine to start the developmental work. However, the locals put up strong protest against the move as a result of which the officials had to return from the spot empty handed.
It may be noted here that the locals, who have been staying at Bagapatia village for more than seven decades or so after obtaining permanent records of rights (patta) and hand patta in their favour from Kanika tehsil, demanded to cancel the habitable Government land that was acquired.