Govt yet to construct Bagapatia rehab centre
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently registered a case over the State Government’s alleged failure to resolve the prolonged resettlement problems of Satabhaya villagers in Kendrapada district while accepting a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy. Tripathy in his petition stated that the villages of Satabhaya, Kanhupur and adjacent villages have been suffering life threats due to sea erosion on the coast in Satabhaya GP and the State Government is yet to take any remedies to resolve the problem.
Though the seaside villagers face tidal surge at regular intervals, a cyclone shelter has not come up yet. Over five hundred families of these seaside villages have lost their livelihoods due to sea erosion. For this, many villagers are migrating to far off places, especially Kerala, every year.
Tripathy informed that the sea has already gobbled up five of seven hamlets and it is feared that Satabhaya and Kanhupur would be wiped out of the map in coming years. While all families have reconstructed their houses two or three times during the last decade to protect themselves, the administration has sit silent.
As per the state revenue records, land areas of five villages, Gobindapur, Mohinipur, Kuanriora, Kharipula and Sarapada, have already taken watery grave in the Bay of Bengal. Though announced, the State Govt is yet to construct resettlement colony at Bagapatia in Gupti of Kendrapada district, Tripathy stated in the petition.
Tripathy urged the NHRC to visit the sea erosion prone villages and to direct the State Government to act on war footing to rehabilitate the villagers with livelihood supports.
It may be noted here that the NHRC had earlier directed the Chief Secretary to take appropriate action for rehabilitation and safety of the above villagers.