Keonjhar: Governor Ganeshi Lal has asked the District Collector to take steps for granting revenue status to five tribal villages in forested pocket under Hatadihi block in Keonjhar.
According to reports, hundreds of tribal people had been displaced by Hadagada irrigation project years ago. They have been staying in Hadagada reserve forest areas like Mallipasi, Sarmundi, Kanleibalipal, Mayurnacha and Bhanr in K Baliapal panchayat.
Locals have alleged been deprived of various government facilities and benefits as their villages have not been granted revenue status. Hence, their livelihood solely depends on collection and sales of minor forest produce.
Over years, their living standards have not improved as expected while developmental works have failed to reach the interior pockets. Their life has been miserable without basis facilities.
For a long time, they have been demanding revenue status to their villages so that the administration will carry out development. But their demands have fallen on deaf ears of the administration, it was alleged.
Upset over the administrative apathy, people of these villages had written to the Governor July 16, pleading him to direct the administration for according revenue status to their villages.
In the latter, they had narrated their multiple inconveniences in the forested pocket without basic facilities. Taking note of the plight of the villagers, the Governor sent a letter to the Collector September 21, with direction to take necessary step in this direction.
The Governor has also sought an action taken report on this and apprise about it to the complainants.
PNN