Rayagada: Several tribal habitations along the border of this district have been encroached upon by residents of Gajapati district, locals of Dumulapadar village of Nuangada panchayat under Padmapur block alleged Monday.
They raised the issue at the district collector’s grievance cell here seeking his intervention in the matter.
According to the petitioners, Dumulapadar village under Gunupur sub-division, located on the Rayagada-Gajapati border, comes under the jurisdiction of Rayagada district. Similarly, Raipanga village under Mohana block is part of Gajapati district and close to Dumulapadar village. However, some people of Grenga village under Raipanka panchayat have encroached upon several tracts of land in Rayagada district and have built houses in the area in the recent past. They have also started cultivating crops in the area. Repeated reminders and warnings by locals to vacate the area failed to have any impact. Moreover, the intruders allegedly threatened the Dumulapadar residents of eviction from their own village, said villagers Kashu Majhi, Govind Majhi and Damodar Dandsena in their complaint to the collector.
“Some locals fro of Gajapati have encroached upon about 16 acres of land near the border. Neither the revenue department nor the local administration has rose to the occasion to prevent it,” Nuangada sarpanch Maria Majhi alleged. The encroachers have removed a plaque which separates both districts, leading to scope for confusion, Majhi added.
They would stage protests unless the administration looks into the matter soon, locals warned.
On the other hand, the collector is learnt to have asked the forest and revenue department to address the issue after receiving the complaint. He also promised to visit the place within a week and take action after a thorough inquiry, according to sources. PNN
