Malkangiri: Villagers displaced for construction of Satiguda dam in this district have warned to boycott forthcoming polls over lack of basic facilities and road connectivity to their villages, a report said.
Reports said the Satiguda dam lies to the right of Malkangiri-Jeypore main road from the district headquarters of Malkangiri. The construction of the dam started in 1968. Over 500 families of Chamkhari, Talaguda, Simagudi, Tangiriguda, Maraguda, Munsha, Sorishmala, Sindhrimala villages which were inside the reservoir area were displaced and relocated elsewhere.
The villagers alleged that some of the villagers were rehabilitated at Munsha Colony in Boilapari where around 50 families were provided with a small house, three acre of land, two goats and pair of bullocks to earn their livelihood.
Ward members Arjun Madkami, Keshav Sisa, Saroj Matam, Chandra Madhi, Ratan Muduli, Chandrasekhar Mademi, Indra Madhi, Lakshman Padma, Madhav Madhi, Pitambar Bhumia of Munsha Colony alleged they gave up their farmlands for construction of the dam but what they received in exchange is only peanuts. The government doled out Rs 500 only as compensation for acquisition of their farmlands for the dam.
The villagers alleged that they were rehabilitated at such places where there were no cultivable land, crematorium, pasture or any forest land. As a result, the tribals abandoned those lands and came to settle at various forested areas.
As many as 16 families of Munsha Colony also paid the tax for the 3-4 acres which the government had given them. Later, they shifted to Bhimarangini and had been staying there for last 45 years. During the settlement works in 1980 they were given land pattas on their farmlands.
However, what ails them is that villages like Bhimarangini and Munsha lacks a good road. The villagers and students had to commute on muddied road to reach their destination and schools.
The villagers alleged they have been living the life of a nomad after being displaced from their ancestral lands for the dam. The state government acquired their land for the dam and rehabilitated them at various sites without resolving their basic problems like a good road and other benefits.
They have been living anyhow but their anger surged when a survey was constructed for construction of a rail route which will pass on their farmlands. They have demanded the state government intervene and resolve their problems failing which they will boycott the forthcoming polls.
PNN
