Bolangir: Years of struggle for rights have finally yielded results for the displaced persons of the Lower Suktel project in Bolangir as the state government directed the Irrigation Department to immediately provide compensation to them as per the 2013 Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act.
As per the letter of the State Irrigation Department, the chief engineer of irrigation projects has been directed to provide compensation to displaced persons of all 29 affected villages as per the 2013 Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act instead of the old land acquisition act.
People of 15 out of the 29 villages who had been compensated as per the old rates would be paid the differential amount. Besides, affected persons of the rest 14 villages would be given compensation after a fresh survey, which will be compensated as per the 2013 Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act.
Lower Suktel Project Chief Executive Belalsingh Bhoi said people are upbeat as the government has finally agreed to their demand.
Lower Suktel Action Committee Advisor Bikramanand Bahidar said, “We are definitely thankful to the government for implementing the new land acquisition act. But the government should take initiative to immediately provide compensation to the displaced.”
It may be mentioned here that various organisations and villagers had staged agitation several times in the past demanding compensation to the displaced.