Dhenkanal: Protesting delay in launching water project for 13 villages including Jaronda, the hub of Mahima cult in Dhenkanal district, hermits, locals and BJP leaders have launched a sit-in at the Collectorate here, Monday.
Though the Centre had sanctioned Rs 23.73 crore for the water project, it has been reportedly unutilised for the past three years.
When RSS’ Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat visited the Mahima shrine at Jaronda in 2015, the villagers and hermits drew his attention to the acute drinking water problem.
Later, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan intervened and ONGC, which is under his ministry, released Rs 18.73 crore for a drinking water project at Jaronda and Rs 5 crore for its maintenance.
The money is still lying unutilised as the project has not received the required administrative approval from the state government, reports said.
The agitators demanded early steps for the start of the project. They also gave a memorandum to the Governor through the additional district magistrate.
When contacted, ADM Purna Chandra Mishra said a meeting would soon be convened and steps would be taken accordingly.
Raghunath Baba, Abinash Baba and Dinabandhu Baba of Mahima peeth, BJP leader Rudra Narayan Pani, former MLA Krushna Chandra Patra and state executive member Shatrughan Jena took part in the demonstration.
PNN