NandapurJan, 19: Residents of 10 panchayats under Nandapur block of Koraput district, who were displaced after giving their land for the Jalaput reservoir project, are continuing to live a life of hardship. To draw the attention of the block, district and state governments to their problems, it was decided in a meeting that further steps would be taken in the coming days.
A meeting of intellectuals from the displaced villages of Bilaput, Atanda, Parajabadapada, Kularsing, Golur, Panthalung, Padua, Kulabir, Balda and Badel panchayats was held.
It was stated that although water from the Jalaput reservoir is available, it is not being used as drinking water for the residents of these 10 panchayats. The reservoir water is also not being properly utilized for irrigation for agriculture.
Though electricity is being generated through fisheries and hydro power projects using water from the reservoir, the displaced people are not receiving any benefits from these projects. It was alleged that displaced families from the 10 panchayats are not being provided employment in either of the two projects.
Basic rural infrastructure such as roads, livelihoods, education and health institutions are in a very poor condition.
Pattangi MLA Ramachandra Kadam has raised the problems of the displaced people in the State Assembly. Social worker and lawyer Anup Patra had also written letters to the President and the Prime Minister drawing attention to the problems of the submerged area residents. Following this, the Prime Minister’s Office directed the state government to review the complaints.
However, despite these developments, no attention has been paid by the block administration, district administration or the state government. Therefore, it was decided in the meeting that the Submerged Area Displaced Council would come to the streets in the coming days to draw the government’s attention.
Those present at the meeting included Akash Khole, Apna Pangi, Ramdas Paria, Nanda Pujari, Hari Hantal, Raghunath Diari, Mukund Gagda, Jinu Nayak, Padlam Matam, Somanath Khul, Keshab Khara, Daitari Sisa, Ram Dumuta, Ghasi Ram Pangi, Madhu Khul, Madhu Bada Nayak, Ram Krishna Dora and Balaram Hantal, among others.