Tribals stall Thotapalli barrage work

Vizianagaram, Mar 22 (UNI) In a setback to timely completion of the project, angry villagers of Sunki tribal hamlet once again stopped the ongoing work on Thotapalli Barrage across Nagavali River since Monday, demanding irrigation officials to hold 'District Level Negotiation Committee' (DNLC) meeting as promised earlier.

The revenue officials had assured the villagers during their earlier protest to hold the meeting between March 15 and 20 to decide on compensation for the land taken up for the project work.

Irked over official apathy, villagers forcibly stalled the work.

Project Executive Engineer K Gangadhara Rao said earthwork was progressing at the right canal where there was no objection.

He said the issue was intimated to Collector B Venkateswara Rao who deputed RDO M Govindarajulu to visit the project site today.

Irate villagers questioned the RDO on the administration's failure to hold the meeting and said work could resume only after the meeting was held.

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