SUKTEL PROTESTERS BURN EFFIGIES OF CM, MP, MLAS Friday, 19 April 2013 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR |

SUKTEL PROTESTERS BURN EFFIGIES OF CM, MP, MLAS

Friday, 19 April 2013 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Burning of effigies of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Balangir MLA AU Singh Deo, Balangir MP Kalikesh Singh Deo (all of the BJD) and Congress MLAs Santosh Singh Saluja and Surendra Singhbhoi for allegedly neglecting the tribal causes marked the ninth day of protests against the construction work for the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project on Thursday.

The protests have been continuing by members of the Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh led by Braja Kishor Singhbhoi and Niranjan Bisi and members of the Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad.

“Let the dam construction stop first. We are opposing this big project as it would ruin the villages of this area and tribal people. We are also protesting against the police attack on tribal women who are undergoing treatment and demand action against the concerned officials. The alternatives suggested by the Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad should be considered by the Government,” said Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh president Braja Kishore Singhbhoi.

“The Government wants to construct dam spillway by using force. More than 90 per cent tribal people of this area would be affected and displaced. As per the rules, the tribal cannot be displaced from their lands. The project has not taken approval of the Forest Rights Committee as per the Forest Right Act. It has also not been approved in Gram Sabha,” said the general secretary of Odisa Adivasi Kalyan Mahasangh.

Meanwhile, a team of civil society activists led by Saroj Padhee of the Human Rights Law Network,(HRLN) visited the Lower Suktel project area and dam site on Thursday and interacted with villagers.

However, Balangir Superintendent of Police R Prakash told this correspondent, “The allegation of assault on protestors by police is false. The assembled protestors prevented police from performing their lawful duty. They had tussled with police officers on duty and tried to catch hold of lathis of police personnel. In this regard, a case has been registered at the Sadar Police station and it is under investigation.”