Khaira: Residents of Damodarpur and Kaithagadia villages under Khaira block in Balasore district have threatened long-term agitation unless encroachment of their inherited land by a Delhi-based company is stopped immediately.
The villagers said that they have written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and to officials of the Green Tribunal and the Pollution Control Board in this regard, but till date nothing has been done to solve their problems.
According to information available, a firm has been appointed to construct a stretch of the National Highway between Ranital and Balasore town. Since starting the work, the villagers alleged, the firm has encroached both private and government land.
The firm has set up stone crushers and other machines on stretches of land between Damodarpur village and Suasari hill, thereby creating problems for the villagers.
The constant vibrations of the heavy machines have affected the many buildings with cracks appearing on them and the villagers fear that their houses will collapse. Some have already left their own accommodation and sought refuge elsewhere.
Apart from the houses, village roads have also been extensively damaged due to the constant plying of heavy vehicles.
Villagers including Kumudini Sa, Ganesh Mahapatra, Bijay Barik and others alleged that no meeting was conducted prior to the handing of village land to a third party. They said it is mandatory to do so.
Other villagers informed that a team comprising officials from Revenue, Forest, Electricity and Labour departments along with SP Radhakrishna, SP of the Vigilance wing in Cuttack had conducted an inspection where most of the illegally running crushers are operating June 19, 2018. However, they said that no action has been initiated against the alleged offenders.
Sub-collector Nilu Mahapatra, when contacted, said he would ask the tehsildar to inquire into the allegation of the villagers.
PNN