Rourkela: Despite threats of hindrances, the construction of the Adarsha Vidyalaya here is progressing smoothly under heavy police protection. Initially, there was apprehension that the displaced persons may resist the development of the school. However, it has fizzled out. The Mining department of the state government is building the school. The school is meant for rural students but is being built in an urban locality. The Odisha government has decided to empower rural kids in mining-affected areas with proper education.
As a result, a decision has been taken to develop such Adarsha Vidyalayas. One school has already come up in Sundargarh while construction of another one will soon start in Keonjhar. The construction of the Adarsha Vidyalaya here started three days back. It is being set up close to the OMFED factory just behind the airport here.
On the first day, locals and displaced persons strongly protested against the construction of the school. “We will not allow the construction as long as our demands are not met,” said a resident of the Luhakera village, which is incidentally an adopted village of the RSP. Similar sentiments were echoed by others in the crowd, which numbered around a hundred. The stiff opposition brought back memories of the development of the agriculture centre which had to be abandoned. Then Sundargarh MLA George Tirkey orchestrated the protests which led to the project getting shelved. Tirkey had alleged that the displaced persons were not getting their dues and were being neglected by the RSP. The Mining Department has been allocated 16 acres of land for the school by the state government. It will be for underprivileged kids from mining-affected areas and the local community.
Despite the protests, the administration has adopted a tough stance. Since the last couple of days, heavy police deployments have been made and the construction of the boundary wall has started. Speaking to the media Rourkela tehasildar, Chandrakant Mallick said, “We will take strong action if anyone tries to interrupt work or tries to cause any kind of disruption. We have deployed a large posse of policemen for this only.” Mallick also pointed out that the school will be beneficial for the kids of those opposing the project. “These people should not get carried away by baseless instigations and accusations,” Mallick opined.