The fast unto death by the sea erosion prone villagers of Satabhaya, demanding fast completion of the rehabilitation colony at Bagapatia, continued for sixth consecutive days on Saturday in front of the district Collector’s office here.
Notably, five agitators have fallen sick, including one critically, on Friday and were admitted at the District Headquarters Hospital.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Umakant Swain and land Acquisition Officer Sibani Mohanty on Saturday evening convinced the agitating villagers to withdraw the stir and assured them that a high level meeting would be organised at the Secretariat regarding the Biju Nagar project under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue Tara Dutt on February 7. They said that the meeting could have been held earlier but for the inability of the Kendrapada district Collector to attend it. They said that the Government was very sympathetic to the villagers’ plight and was sincere to complete their relocation as soon as possible. However, the agitators demanded that Additional Chief Secretary Dutt be asked to visit the place where the agitation was underway.