Baripada, October 17( Odisha.in) Normally peaceful Mayurbhanj district is likely to witness a Kalinga Nagar type tribal agitation as the displaced tribals of multi-crore Jambira Medium Irrigation Project at Deuli under the district headquarter in Mayurbhanj, were getting ready to intensify their agitation.
It will be held under the aegis of Gana Abhijan Orissa (GAO) like the Kalinga Nagar mass movement, the outfits, fighting for the compensation and rehabilitation of people displaced by developmental project in the state.
The outfits told the media persons on Wednesday, that compensation and rehabilitation have been eluding the oustees in Mayubhanj. He further alleged that the Neelachal Ispat Nigam oustees have received Rs. 53,000 per acre along with other benefits and crores of rupees and services has been provided to oustees in Jajpur district of Orissa as a compensation but citing that the JMIP oustees have so far been deprived of.
“We are not against development. But we can not remain silent while the displaced people suffer. They should be compensated,” stressed outfits. Sarat Kumar Nayak local representative stated that a five-point cater of demands will be presented to the collector tomorrow.
The demands inter alia, will include a payment of Rs 1 lakhs per acre acquired from the oustees, exgratia payment of Rs. 1 lakh for construction of houses at the site where they would be settled, payment of subsistence allowance to each displaced family for one year, government job at least one member of every displaced family, patta (record of right) for the new address.
Besides, the displaced persons should be provided with employment opportunities via food for work programme and supply of saal leaf plate and leaf-cup processing machines. Former chief minister, the then chief minister Mr. Biju Patnik laid the foundation station of JMIP at Deuli in 1987. Since then, the project has run into rough weather due to te stiff resistance from the displaced people and the anti-dam agitators.
The nearly three crores ruprrd project would guarantee irrigation to 10,890 hectares in the Kharif and 5,876 hectares in the rabi season in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts turning arid lands into greener pastures.
Odisha.in