Post News Network
Rourkela, Jan 22: Eleven platoons of police were deployed Friday at Sector-13 under Bankia mouza here as tension mounted over the commencement of construction work of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), the second one in the district.
Hundreds of members of Adivasi Mulabasi Banchao Manch, an outfit of tribal people, staged a dharna at the site opposing the construction. They also demanded return of several acres of land, which are suitable for cultivation, to the tribals. DSPs Tusharkanta Jena and Ramesh Kumar Panigrahi and IICs of several police stations kept vigil on the situation and didn’t allow the agitators to enter the project site. However, the construction work of the boundary wall was postponed as tribals didn’t vacate the site till the evening.
The district administration has illegally acquired the lands of the tribals flouting the Land Acquisition Act of 1895, members of the outfit alleged. According to the agitators, Rourkela Steel Plant authorities had returned about 150 acres of land under Bankia mouza to the state government. The authorities had found the lands, which originally belonged to the tribals, unsuitable for their purpose. Without returning these lands to the tribals, the administration has again acquired another 50 acres to set up the second KVK of the district, the tribals alleged.
“Establishment of the KVK is not acceptable till the 150 acres of land is returned to us,” Biramitrapur MLA George Tirkey, who was present at the site, said.
The government has provided 50 acres land to OUAT to set up the KVK. The Kendra would become operational in two years, sources said. PNN