Post News Network
Joda, Oct 18: A private company has allegedly grabbed a part of Uliburu-Hayarpur road under Joda block in Keonjhar and raised a boundary wall for its factory. Expressing anger over the matter, local residents demanded a probe by Crime Branch.
Krushna Gagarai, a tribal leader of the locality October 14, sent written complaints to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Crime Branch in this regard. In his complaint, Gagarai stated that Jagannath Steel KJS Ahuluwalia has raised the boundary wall at Burusahi near Uliburu village.
He pointed out that the road work from Burusahi to Hayarpur-Barbil was carried out in the first phase in 2009-10 at an expenditure of Rs 5 lakh and then in 2010-11 incurring the same cost under MGNREGS. Similarly, another patch of road from Hayarpur to Barbil was carried out in 2003-4 under another scheme.
Gagarai further stated that Jagannath Steel KJS Ahuluwali has been carrying out boundary wall construction since 2014. Locals had earlier taken up the issue with the Joda BDO, Barbil tehsildar, Champua sub-colector and Keonjhar collector several times, but no action was taken against the company, the complaint said.
“With the erection of the boundary wall, people of Hayarpur and Uliburu are facing commuting problems. 102 and 108 ambulances fail to reach the villages when their services are required,” Gagarai said, adding that he has urged the Chief Minister and the Crime Branch take up the matter seriously, which has harmed public interest.
