Nuapada: Three families displaced by the Sahajat minor irrigation project in Komna block of this district alleged that they were deprived of compensation even for 10 years since the completion of the project. They staged a sit-in protest before the District Collector’s office Monday.
The families sought the intervention of the Collector to release their compensation. Even after running from pillar to post for years, no one paid heed to them and with no options left, the families have now resorted to demonstration, they said.
“Ten years have passed, but we are yet to get our compensation. They have only given half of the compensation. We suspect they have bungled all the money. We are not demanding more. Our fight for justice will continue until we are provided money for the losses we have suffered,” the agitating family members said.
In a bid to help the farmers of Jatagad, Sahajat, Balipat and other neighbouring villages, government had laid the irrigation project 10 years back. Land of at least 10 farming families was submerged in the irrigation project.
Even as the administration had promised to pay necessary compensation to the displaced families, the farmers complained of getting half the compensation. They alleged that the officials in the Collectorate had bungled the remaining money. The families were only given fake promises.
After failing to bring the matter to the notice of the Collector, the families finally resorted to a sit-in before the Collector’s office. We demand the Collector to look into the issue and release the remaining compensation, the agitators said.
PNN
