Balangir, Sept. 27: The district administration could not start work today on the Lower Suktel Irrigation project following stiff resistance by local residents and organisations espousing the cause of displaced villagers.

A senior official of the district administration said work would resume only after talks with the agitating people of the project area. No untoward incident was reported and the police acted with restraint.

Nearly 2,000 people, including women and children, gathered at the Magurbeda project site, despite prohibitory orders, to oppose the Odisha Construction Corporation’s attempts to start building a spillway.

They shouted slogans and said the government had taken a “biased” decision by listening to pro-project people and ignoring the interest of the villagers who were going to be affected.

Ghunu Sahu, one of the leading activists of the people opposing the project, said: “In 2007, the chief minister had promised to meet the activists, but nothing has happened so far.”

Subarna Budek, a local agitator, said: “We want the project, but the government must compensate and rehabilitate us properly before starting any work.”

Additional district magistrate of Balangir Sadhab Minz said: “It was not possible to carry out work because of the resistance from agitators. We will talk to the agitators and the higher authorities before we resume work.”

The project includes an earthen dam 1,410 metres long and 36 metres high and will help irrigate 31,830 hectares. Sixteen villages will be affected and they need to be relocated. Another 10 villages will be partially affected. The project, started in 1998 at an estimated cost of Rs 217 crore, has been moving at a snail’s pace and the projected cost has touched Rs 1,040 crore. While local residents are resisting construction and demanding proper relief and rehabilitation, another section of people have launched an agitation demanding steps for completion of the project.