Balasore: Farmers, who had given up their land to the State government for development of industries in Balasore, are yet to receive compensation for the same.
In 2011, IDCO (Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation) had acquired 1,100 acre of private land from Mukhura, Nuapadhi and Narasinghpur panchayats of Remuna block in Balasore district. More than 700 people from 3 panchayats had given up their land, however, after 8 years since the deal was struck, farmers have alleged that they are yet to get the compensation promised by the government.
Despite running from pillar to post, farmers have alleged that the government is taking no steps to resolve the issue.
"We are facing a lot of problems and we don't have money to pay for our hospital bills and meet the education expense of our children," said a farmer Kalicharan Das.
"The State government had taken 1,099 acre from poor farmers in the name of creating a land bank. The land acquisition was done in 2013 but the farmers have not received any compensation till date. This government is hoodwinking the farmers," Secretary of Odisha unit of BJP, Lekhashree Samantsinghar said.
"As per the first phase assessment, there was an increment in the price of land about which we had asked IDCO for its view. We have sent the revised rates of the land to the government. Only after getting a response, we will take further steps," Additional collector of Balasore, Manas Ranjan Padhi said.