Nabarangpur: Even as the Centre is pushing the Bharatmala Pariyojana, 904.32 hectares of government land and 350.296 hectares of forest land will be acquired for the project in Nabarangpur district, a report said.
Meanwhile, the district administration has started holding of public hearings on the project and land acquisition. Reports said, in the first phase, the government will complete road projects of 24,800 km by 2020.
Raipur-Vishakhapatna road project is one of the projects. Both government and private lands for the road will be acquired. The Odisha State Pollution Congrol Board (Rayagada) has started public hearings on the issue.
A part of the road admeasuring 365.033 km will be laid through the district (from Dhanra in Nabarangpur to Tumbigua in Koraput). Before carrying out the road construction, 240 km of the road need environment clearance.
The road project will pass through 70 villages in Nabarangpur and 59 villages in Koraput. The perimeter of the road will be of 60 metre wide. In this part of the road project, 16 major bridges, 59 small bridges, 295 culverts and two tunnels will be constructed.
Besides, several other facilities for crossing the road will be constructed. There will be toll plazas, parking areas and high mast lights. Rs 8,092 crore will be spent for the project.
As per a survey, 904.32 hectares of government land and 350.296 hectares of forest land in the district will be acquired for the project. About 1100 people of 220 families will be affected by the project. Many houses will be removed while 76050 tress will be cut down.
The government has made a provision of Rs 38.87 crore for compensation to land losers and their resettlement. However, land resettlement has not been done in the area.
President of the Bharat Kishan Sangh, Gopal Pujahari and president of the Krushak Sangh Sanraj Ganda said land settlement has not been done in Umerkote and Raighar areas.
“Many families will have to lose their homestead land and farmland for the project. Bengali refugees have been provided land and land pattas while local residents have not got pattas. Many people will have to suffer after losing their farmland,” they lamented.
They demanded that those who lose farmland should be provided with an equal measure of farmland. They have demanded that the road project be diverted from their area. However, Rajya Sabha MP Mona Khan said the road project will usher in development in the district.
PNN
