Narasingha blames Odisha govt for delay in Suktel project

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bolangir, Apr 16:

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Odisha Assembly Narasingha Mishra today blamed the state government for the delay in the execution of Lower Suktel Project and warned it of serious consequences if the work is not completed soon.

“The Bolangir district has been deprived of irrigation facilities due to the neglect of the state government. The government needs to implement the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 and complete the land acquisition. The people of Bolangir will take to the streets, should the government not do it and the government would be responsible for the consequences,” said Mishra, who also is the Congress MLA from Bolangir.

The BJD was quick to counter the charge of neglect.

“The government is dealing with all allegations and complaints over the compensation to be paid to the displaced. We are doing our best. The project started with Naveen Patnaik at the helm and it would also be completed with him at the helm,” said BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo.

It may be noted that the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) met yesterday seven long years after the project got underway to recommend to the state government payment of compensation to the families displaced by the project as per the provisions of the ‘Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013’.