Missile testing, villagers demand hike in compensation

Balasore, Dec 3 (UNI) The villagers residing close to the defence establishment in Chandipur area today threatened to launch an agitation if their demands, including hike in compensation, were not met.

In a memorandum to the District Collector, Jaydevkasabapahi, Bardhanpur, Sahajanagar, Bhimpur and Kusmuli villagers under the banner of 'Purvanchala Surakshya Committee'(PSC) demanded a rise in the compensation amount for each adult to Rs 300 from the existing Rs 120.

Besides, a double compensation for the minors from Rs 60 to Rs 120 for each day of evacuation during the test fire of missiles.

PSC President Biranchi Narayan Panda said a compensation of Rs 20 per cattle head per day should be given as against the prevailing Rs 10 per family for any number of livestocks.

He also demanded that a 71-hour notice be given for evacuation for test fire of the missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR).

Mr Panda also alleged that despite a court order the families, whose land were acquired for the defence project, had not yet been compensated as the district authorities were not executing the court order.

The Defence Research Development organisation (DRDO) has acquired 324.76 acres of land for expansion of the ITR in 1998 and payment was made in 2002 at the rate of Rs 18,000 and Rs 25,000 per acre against the state government rate of Rs 2.25 lakh per acre.

Though the court had directed to pay Rs 50,000 per acre with interest, the order has yet to be implemented, he said.

The villagers alleged that they were often prohibited from using the range road owned and maintained by the DRDO despite the defence authorities had agreed in 1971 to allow the villagers to use the road.

The closure of the road posed serious inconvenience to the villagers as they found it difficult to avail the medicare and attend to their day today requirements, they said.

UNI