Hatadihi: Hadagada dam in Keonjhar district was built in 1970, but still many people displaced by the irrigation project are yet to be rehabilitated and get basic facilities, a report said.
Kanlabaliapal panchayat is a remote pocket in the tribal-dominated Hatadihi block. The panchayat constitutes seven villages namely— Mayuranacha (150 families), K. Baliapal (90 families), Raighati (200 families), Sarmundi (50 families), Bhanra (90 families), Mallipasi (150 families) and Nuabalaipal (15) families. In total, the panchayat has a population of nearly 6,000.
In 1965, the state government came out with a notification to build Hadagada dam across Salandi river and in 1970, its construction started.
The government had identified five villages – Mayurnacha, K. Baliapal, Sarmundi, Mallipasi and Bhanra as submergence-prone area.
Then, 500 families were displaced for the project and all their farmlands were acquired by the government.
54 years have passed since the project was set up, but the plight of the oustees has not improved by an iota. Scores of them have not been rehabilitated and paid compensation too.
They are deprived of various basic facilities. Roads to their villages are still a dream while they have to live in dark without electricity. Boats are only means of communication to cross river Salandi.
“The government has not even thought of building a bridge to facilitate communication,” an oustee lamented.
The alternative land route is a circuitous one. People have to travel 100 kilometres via Thakurmunda in Mayurbhanj district or from Oupada in Balasore to reach their district headquarters.
Drinking water is another major problem here. People have to depend on creeks and streams at some places.
However, after a long time, the government has provided land pattas to 23 families in Mayurnacha and housing units under Indira Awaas Yojana in 2012-13.
Similarly, the revenue department has provided four decimal of land to 25 families of Bhanra village at Raighati mouza.
Now, most of displaced families do not have decent livelihood sources and have to depend on the forest for it.
In fact, healthcare is not accessible to them till date while education scenario is still dismal. Most of the displaced families are living in thatched houses and huts with housing schemes floundering.
Amulya Sankhua, a local resident, said the government needs to pay special attention for rehabilitation of the displaced people and make provision for at least basic facilities.
Hadagada ranger Surendranath Hembram said, “96 families, who were staying in the Hadagada sanctuary, have been taken out and rehabilitated. The forest department is making efforts for their proper rehabilitation.”
DFO Ajit Satpathy said that once the families are taken out of the forest area, they will be rehabilitated as the per the government guidelines.