Protests stall Lower Suktel construction work

Bolangir: Barely two hours after construction work for the Rs1042 crore Lower Suktel Irrigation project started on Thursday, officials were forced to halt the work for indefinite period amid huge protests from locals and the displaced. Despite the imposition of section 144 at the project site, Odisha Construction Corporation (OCC) officials could not start the work, leading the project to an ambiguity, at least for now.  

Around 2,000 protestors including women and school children under the banner of Lower Suktel Sangram Parishad staged protest at the construction site, forcing the officials to stop the work.  The agitators demanded adequate compensation for the displaced.