Bolangir: Tension prevailed at the Lower Suktel project site in the district today after the displaced people, mostly women, staged a dharna halting the on-going construction work of the dam demanding immediate rehabilitation and a revision of the compensation package.
They went in a rally to the site and demanded shut down of construction activities of Lower Suktel project till they were paid full compensation. They staged protest once again after district administration, which had promised earlier to fulfil their demands by May 31, did not do the needful. Though some amount of the compensation was given in 2014, the protestors are demanding rehabilitation as per the 2013 policy approved by the State Cabinet.
They had demanded a hike in the compensation package at the earliest.
The irrigation project, which is considered to be the lifeline of Bolangir farmers, has been witnessing several protests and agitations by the displaced over compensation issues.