Finally, the State Government on Saturday resumed launch service from Chitrakonda jetty to cutoff areas in Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district after stoppage of the service for last 10 days.
After resuming of the service, the launches left for Andrapalli panchayat in the cutoff area at 12 noon on Saturday carrying essential items and passengers. The people were happy after hearing the news and they welcomed the step taken by the administration. “We have sent three launches to Andrapalli with MDM and PDS rice, essential medicine and kerosene,” said Malkangiri Collector M Muthukumar.
Notably, an 18-member delegation comprised of elected representatives of Chitrakonda block, PRI members of Andirapalli, Joda Amba, Panasput panchayat in the cutoff areas along with tribals of the district on Friday met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and requested him to help the tribal people of the cut-off areas by resuming launch services. later the Chief Minister directed the district administration to resume launch services as early as possible.
The issue was also raised in the monsoon session of the Assembly by the Congress members. Even tribal bodies of Chitrakonda and Malkangiri urged the Maoists to cooperate in resuming launch services to the cutoff areas as they had threatened the launch operators on August 20 to stop ferrying services in the reservoir.