[Reader-list] Intervene to Protect Illegal Displacement due to Lower Suktel Dam in Odisha

[Asit Das]

 Intervene to Protect Illegal Displacement due to Lower Suktel Dam in
Odisha<http://sanhati.com/articles/8970/>

*January 22, 2014*
 *Action Alert                            Action Alert
 Action Alert*
*New Delhi, 21st January, 2013*
Dear Friends,
On 20th January, 2013, Lower Suktel Dam project work has started again with
heavy deployment of Police in the Area. They had detained more than 250
villagers protesting the project, later on released them. Lower Suktel is a
major irrigation scheme on a tributary of Mahanadi in Bolangir district of
Odisha. The Environment Clearance to the project was given by the Ministry
of Environment and Forest in 1998. The dam site is located around 20 kms.
from the Bolangir town which will submerge more than 30 villages.
Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Parishad has been fighting against the dam
construction since its beginning. In 1997, public hearing for the project
happened, when 29 out of 30 people opposed the project. In 2001, the
government tried to lay down the foundation stone which could not happen
due to strong opposition of the local people. The project was opposed many
times in many forums, but in 2012 some MLAs sat on a demonstration in
Orissa Assembly Complex to start construction. Despite the strong
opposition to the project, construction started in April, 2013 with Police
brutality and in that course more than 100 people were arrested, which has
raised question about the project across the country. In that confrontation
film makers and journalists were also attacked by the police. Eventually
the construction was stopped.
But now again 3-4 days back administration has started it, destructing
their agricultural land with standing crop and Mango trees and that too in
a village where some people have not given their land for the project.
Collector had ordered for investigation and to compensate the loss to those
who have not given land. But the construction is still on without any
grievance redressal.
*We demand: *

   1. *The construction should be immediately stopped, since it violates
   the existing norms and procedures and is completely illegal.*
   2. *Due compensation should be given for the loss of crop and other
   properties due to forceful construction.*
   3. *The government should appoint a committee to look into the matter
   and the project as a whole. *

Please write to the following urgently :
     *Sl. No.*
 *Whom*
 *Email*
 *Phone / Fax no.*
  1
 The Chief Minister

 0674-2531100,2531500
Fax No. 0674-2390562
  2
 Principal Secretary, Water Resource Department
 wrsec at ori.nic.in
 0674-2536764 /
2392630 /
  3
 Regional Office, Ministry of Environment and Forests

 Off. No. 0674: 2301213
2302432
Fax No. 0674: 2302432
  4
 District Collector, Bolangir
 dm-balangir at nic.in
 *06652- 232223*
*Fax No. 233082*
  In Solidarity,
*National Alliance of People’s Movements*
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===============================================

*National Alliance of People’s Movements *National Office : 6/6, Jangpura
B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110014
Phone : 011 24374535 Mobile : 09818905316
Web : www.napm-india.org | napmindia at gmail.com
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