Champua/Joda: Thakurani Shala, a place of worship for tribals of Basudevpur under Champua sub-division in Keonjhar, needs to be shifted to make space for the ongoing work of Kanpur major irrigation project. However, displaced people of the area were unwilling to relocate the shrine as their religious sentiments were attached to it.
The administration held a meeting with the oustees here Wednesday. The administration said the displaced have agreed to relocate the shrine.
Reports said, the meeting was chaired by Champua sub-collector Pratap Preetimaya and was attended by PD(R&R) Kushal Chandra Nayak, SDPO Dillip Chandra Bag, Barbil tehsildar Alok Kumar Patel and other officials.
At the meeting the officials assured the displaced people to find an alternative place for the deity. The locals have identified three places for the shrine. The officials visited the three places.
The villagers also demanded a school building, playground, a community hall. The officials assured them of looking into their other demands.
It may be noted here that a 122-metre spur of the Kanpur irrigation project had been facing hurdle due to Thakurani Shala.
The sub-collector said steps will be taken to meet the demands of the displaced people.
However, he added that special assistance as sought by the displaced is under consideration of the government.
The villagers said that though they had been trying to prevail upon the administration about their demands since 2017, nobody was listening to them.
“We now have faith in the assurance of the sub-collector and agreed to shift the shrine elsewhere,” said Ganeswar Patra, a villager.
PNN
