Displaced families stage protest at Telengiri irrigation project site

Jeypore: A day before inauguration by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, displaced families of Telengiri irrigation project in Koraput district staged dharna near the project site today. Resentment among the displaced families has been growing as they alleged that while some of them have not been identified as displaced, others have not received compensation.

The agitators also threatened to boycott the upcoming elections, if their demands are not met at the earliest.

“While families have been identified as displaced, individuals including youths and unmarried women, widows and divorcees have not been included in the list of displaced. These individuals should get compensation accordingly,” said Duryodhana Harijan, a project-displaced.

In his reaction, Telengiri Land Acquisition officer, Janmenjaya Swain, said, “Disbursal of compensation among widows is the priority. We have identified 68 such cases and sent the proposal for approval. We can disburse the money only after getting the approval.”

The CM is scheduled to visit Koraput district tomorrow and dedicate the Telengiri project to public. He will also attend a Biju Yuva Vahini rally and inaugurate several projects and lay foundation stone of projects worth Rs 1,700 crore. Land to landless in urban areas will also be distributed at the function.

“More than 30,000 members of Biju Yuva Vahini from the undivided Koraput district would attend the congregation. During the programme, the CM will distribute patta to landless in urban areas,” said Iswar Chandra Panigrahi, member of the State Planning Board.