Rengali oustees block NH demanding suitable compensation

Sambalpur, Apr 3 (UNI) Hundreds of people today blocked National Highway No.6 at various places in Deogarh district and courted arrest demanding suitable compensation for the Rengali land oustees.

The demonstrators later submitted a 22-point charter of demands to the state government through the Deogarh collector urging for a fresh survey of 34 villages submerged in the Rengali Dam, permanent patta to the displaced persons, reassessment of family and compensation to the leftout persons at the present market price.

Land oustees leader Netrananda Samal said all successive state governments irrespective of their party affiliation have ignored the genuine demands of the people. ''This has compelled us to resort to road blockade in support of the three decades old demands,'' she said.

''The Rengali Dam has not only pushed us to a pathetic condition but deprived us socially and culturally as the displaced people were resettled in an unplanned manner'', Aswini Behera a leader from Tileibani said.

Deogarh Collector R.K.Jena said the administration has already started processing the demand of the land oustees adding that a meeting under the chairmanship of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (northern division) was held recently to find suitable solutions to the people's demand.

He said action would soon be taken to issue permanent patta to those who were issued provisional patta under ''K'' form. The Collector said no untoward incident was reported during the agitation which was called off later following a discussion with the district officials.

UNI XC DP PC LS RAI2158