RDA office gehraoed over cold shoulder to Palli Sabhas

Rourkela: Tension erupted during a public hearing conducted by the Rourkela Development Authority (RDA) after Mula Adivasi Sangh gheraoed the RDA office in protest against Palli Sabhas being ignored in the implementation of Comprehensive Development Plan for the district.

Alleging that no Palli Sabha’s are being organised for carrying out developmental work in Sundargarh, which comes under the Panchayat Extension to Schedule Area (PESA) Act, the tribes' association led by Biramitrapur MLA George Tirkey gheraoed the RDA office.

“Despite Sundargarh being a scheduled district, the constitutional provisions have been blatantly violated. As per the PESA Act, the authorities should take the suggestions of the gram sabhas before initiating any developmental project. But this is not being followed,” Tirkey alleged.

Asked about the matter, Rourkela ADM Manisha Banerjee said she had a discussion with the Biramitrapur MLA about the demands of the Mula Adivasi Sangh.

But she said the hearing the objection relating to CDP and inclusion of the areas under CDP is the discretion of the state government.