The WB irrigation department has begun construction of a gate on Odisha’s Sahabajipur-Udayapur road
Bhograi: Tension ran high in the fringe village Sahabajipur-Udayapur under Bhograi block in Balasore district Tuesday when the West Bengal irrigation department started construction of a gate here.
After a hiatus, the neighbouring state has entered into another confrontation with the Odisha government.
The irrigation department of the neighbouring state has put up a sign board and encroached upon a part of the Sahabajipur-Udyapur road. It has also started construction work under its ‘Digha Sea Beach Protection and Beautification Work’. The signboard claimed that Udaypur beach belongs to West Bengal.
Residents of fringe villages have strongly opposed such an illegal act of the West Bengal government. They have taken up the issue with the Bhograi MLA as well as the district administration.
Some officials and leaders from West Bengal had strongly opposed construction of Sahabajipur-Udyapur road by the state government December 31, 2015.
Again in October 2016, they had pulled down a toilet constructed by the Odisha government. In the same month, the district administration of Balasore and Medinapore had held a meeting at Talsari Marine police station and entered into a written agreement that no development activity will be undertaken in border areas. But the Medinpore administration allegedly violated the agreement by installing a gate on the road belonging to Odisha.
Bhograi MLA and Higher Education Minister Ananta Das condemned the act by the neighbouring government and warned that the locals would pull down the illegal structure if necessary. ADM Manas Ranjan Padhi, Jaleswar SDPO Ramachandra Gouda and tehsildar Ramchandra Kisku visited the spot and took stock of the situation there.
“We have sought a clarification on the issue from Medinapore Collector, the SP and the irrigation department of West Bengal government,” said Padhi.
PNN
