Post News Network
Joda, Nov 21: A controversy broke out over Bansapani rail siding land under a mining circle in Keonjhar. People of Kamarjoda mouza alleged their land has been grabbed by the railway authorities. The villagers have initiated efforts to reclaim their land.
The bid to recapture land led to transportation of minerals on the rail siding Friday.
Reports said, in 1968, the railways had acquired land from local tribals to develop siding, but later grabbed more land. Since then, the railways has been using that land, locals alleged.
Villagers recently found that 52 more decimal of their land has been in use as part of rail siding even though they have long been paying revenue for the land. There are over 50 people who claim ownership on a patch of land.
They have been trying to resolve the matter for the last six months. They took up the matter with the district collector and the railways authorities November 4, 2015.
However, neither the railways nor the district administration came forward to sort out the matter. They Friday came together on the issue and tried to impose their ownership on their land inside the rail siding. Local police and railway police were present at the spot. The villagers held discussions with officials and demanded early solution of the dispute.
They also raised similar cases at other rail sidings in the district. They alleged the railway authorities have not provided any facility to land losers as yet.
They also alleged that contractors from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal have been engaged for loading and unloading of minerals at the rail sidings while they are using their land with the help of the administration.
