SUKTEL PROTEST CONTINUES, ONE WOMAN AMONG 7 HELD Tuesday, 16 April 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR |

SUKTEL PROTEST CONTINUES, ONE WOMAN AMONG 7 HELD

Tuesday, 16 April 2013 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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The agitation by the Lower Suktel Budi Achal Sangram Parishad against the construction of spillway construction at Pardhiapali on river Suktel entered its seventh day on Monday, with police taking into custody seven protestors, including a woman, when they tried to enter into restricted area in the project work site.

Supporting the agitators, members of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti and Lok Shakti Abhijan president Prafulla Samantary visited the spot and addressed the people.

 "The environment clearance to the project has lapsed. The project cost has touched Rs 1,300 crore. The sudden starting of construction of the dam, without consulting the local people and undertaking fresh environmental and economic impact assessment, is not proper. The step is nothing but to woo the urban people of the district headquarters, who are going to get water if the project takes off, because the general elections are approaching. The Government should talk with the villagers going to be affected by the project before starting the project. Besides, the Government should also look into the alternatives of the project suggested by people," said Samantarya, who strongly criticized the police action against the innocent protestors.

Adivasi Kalyan Sangh also extended their support and joined in the agitation against dam. "We demand pattas for the landless tribals, not the dam. Besides, the district administration should also identify those people who have occupied the land of tribals and initiate steps to vacate them and restore the lands to the tribals as per Section (23) of the Odisha Land Reforms Act 1960," said Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangha president Niranjan Bisi.