Jajpur: The under-construction Haridashpur-Paradip and Sukinda-Angul rail link projects in this district might get further delayed as the review meeting by the revenue department held May 29 ignored some major issue relating to land acquisition, a report said Sunday.
The forest land acquisition which has been delayed is scuttling these two rail projects while the dillydallying attitude of the administration in handing over the compensation to the land losers has also held up the projects.
Meanwhile, commerce and transport secretary Brahmananda Behera (letter-24820, dated-7.7.2018) has directed the special land acquisition officers (LAO) to acquire land as per rules and take steps to provide compensation to land losers by July 20.
Over 1197.815 acre of land in 69 villages under Dhenkanal, Angul and Jajpur districts have been decided to be acquired for the Angul- Sukinda rail link project. However, locals in these villages are opposing forcible land acquisition.
Over 279.120 acre of land in 13 villages in Jajpur, 796.64 acre of land in 49 villages of Dhenkanal and 122.055 acre of land in seven villages of Angul have been decided to be acquired for the rail project. Over 62.700 acres of government land and 91.113 acres forest land have been decided to be acquired in Jajpur district alone.
This apart, the opposition of the locals to the land acquisition in Duburi mouza under Sukinda tehsil has come as a fresh challenge. The farmers in Duburi mouza accompanied by their family members staged a Satyagarha under the scorching sun last April. However, the May 29 meeting of the revenue department did not discuss anything on the issue which raised doubts on providing compensation to land losers.
A similar type of situation has emerged for the Haridashpur-Paradip rail project where the lands in Gobandia and Paripalei villages are yet to get sanction for acquisition from the commerce and transport department. Moreover, no steps have been taken yet to acquire 40 acre of government land in Darpan tehsil in Jajpur district.
PNN