Balangir, April 5: Inhabitants of 22 villages that are going to be affected by the Lower Suktel irrigation project demanded immediate resumption of the project work, which was stopped a few months ago. They have also demanded rehab under the new rehabilitation and resettlement policy of the central government.

To press for its demands, the Lower Suktel Project Action Committee has called a Balangir bandh on April 9.

Committee president Gopaljee Panigrahi said Balangir was drought prone as the district lacked irrigation facility.

“Balangir is infamous for drought as there are no irrigation projects in the district. The government started the Lower Suktel irrigation project in 2001 to develop irrigation in the district. But apathy on the part of political leaders, officials and their vested interests has stalled work on the project. More than 10 years after work on the project began, not much progress has been made. For the past few months, work on the project has stopped completely,” he said and demanding immediate resumption of the work.

Panigrahi said the affected villagers should be compensated in accordance with the new rehabilitation and resettlement policy of the Centre.

“We can’t accept compensation under the rehabilitation and resettlement policy announced in 2006. The villagers must be compensated as per the new policy,” he said.

Sadananda Mahala, a resident of Barpugudia village, said the government should consider that the villages would be fully submerged and compensate them accordingly.