Duburi: The forcible land acquisition for the Sukinda-Angul-Duburi line near here in Jajpur district by the railways and non-payment of compensation for the acquired land have resulted in frequent face-offs between the railways and farmers.
Disturbed by the frequent face-offs, the railway authorities had sought police protection and are carrying out work with the help of the police.
The angry farmers and villagers stopped ground levelling for the Sukinda-Angul-Duburi line Saturday after a farmer collapsed during a visit to his farm.
The incident occurred Saturday when farmer Saibu Mohanta (46) of Bagharasahi village in Kalinganagar police limits visited his farm at the disputed site.
He collapsed after he failed to find his farm which had been levelled by the consultancy agency for laying railway tracks. The incident sparked tension in the area. Hundreds of farmers rushed to the spot and stopped work at the site.
A platoon of police led by Kalinganagar ASP was deployed at the spot to prevent law and order problems. The critically ill Saibu was admitted to Danagadi hospital later.
The farmers said that around 56 acres of Khata No: 127 and plot number 101/28 and 1 were in the process of being acquired for laying railway tracks. However, the railways is now forcibly acquiring the 56 acres from farmers without issuing notices and paying compensation, the farmers alleged.
Farmers are the legitimate owners of the land as they have the land’s title deeds and are regularly paying tax at the revenue inspector’s office in Duburi.
The farmers objected to the high handedness of the railways and demanded that it should first issue notices to them and pay compensation before acquiring the land.
The farmers said that the railways was forcibly acquiring 56 acres in Khata No: 127 without issuing any notice with the help of Sukinda tehsil officials.
Disturbed by the events the farmers have filed a petition in court demanding justice. The court has issued a stay order regarding the land.
The matter is actually sub-judice, but the consultancy agency tried to start work last Monday. The farmers rushed to the spot and stopped it. The agency tried to start work again Monday with the help of the police.
The consultancy agency refused to relent and again started work Wednesday. Woman farmer Gurubari was injured after she was hit by a dredger in the melee. The firm again tried to start work Thursday. The farmers did not object as there was heavy police presence at the spot.
The farmers were preparing to meet the Chief Minister in Bhubaneswar with their land title deeds when Saibu Mohanta visited his farm and collapsed after he could not find his farmland.
PNN