By Express News Service
ROURKELA: Villagers of coal-rich Hemgir block in Sundargarh district have as soon as once more taken to the streets demanding fast strengthening of Bankibahal-Taparia highway. With the State authorities failing to maintain its promise to assemble the highly-damaged highway, affected villagers underneath the aegis of Janashakti Bikash Parishad launched an indefinite financial blockade at Taparia from Tuesday.
The highway resulting in Raigarh in Chattisgarh is used for coal transportation by heavy autos from Kulda and Basundhara mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in Hemgir and iron ore from Koida Mining Circle. Around 1,800-2,000 mineral-carrying heavy autos ply on the route each day.
Local chief Tejram Sa stated, as a part of the agitation, motion of solely mineral-carrying autos has been stopped until fulfilment of calls for. Among different issues, villagers need fast building of highway, creation of separate different highway for coal transportation, building of bypass roads for affected villages and compensation for harm of standing crops as a consequence of coal mud.
In July final yr, the villagers had stopped coal mining and transportation of MCL for 3 days following which Sundargarh Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan had assured in writing to start out highway building work from October 25. The similar month, Works Minister Prafulla Mallick too had assured to drift tender for building of the highway at a value of Rs 131.36 crore.
On November 28, villagers had taken out a protest march to the MCL basic supervisor’s workplace whereas Sundargarh MLA Kusum staged protest outdoors the Odisha Legislative Assembly over the difficulty. Tete stated the endurance of villagers is operating out because the district administration and authorities are solely shopping for time with the false promise of beginning work.
BJD basic secretary and former Sundargarh MLA Yogesh Singh stated the Collector has assured to launch Rs 131.36 crore for the highway mission from the District Mineral Foundation. The price estimation has been despatched to the federal government for approval.