Members of the Mahila Mahasanga and the Budi Anchal Agragrami Sangh along with locals staged a dharna at Magurbeda, the dam site of the lower Suktel Irrigation Project in Balangir district, demanding early payment of compensation to the displaced as per the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2013.
The construction works at the project site was halted due to the dharna held under leadership of Hemangini Barik and Upendra Sahu.
SP Ashis Singh and lower Suktel Chief Engineer rushed to spot and held discussion with the agitators. However, the discussion was not fruitful as the locals remained adamant on their demands.
Meanwhile, a villager, Guladhar Biswal (50) of Pardhiapali, became unconscious at the dharna site and was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).