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Sambalpur, Aug. 17: The Sindol Bruhat Jala Bidyut Prakalpa Birodhi Kriyanusthan Committee today staged a dharna to protest against the setting up of the proposed Sindol hydropower projects. Several political and apolitical organisations, activists from Boudh and Sonepur districts joined them.
The activists sat in front of the office of revenue divisional commissioner northern division at Sambalpur.
Workers of the Biju Janata Dal were also seen at the meeting. Among others, former state unit BJP chief Suresh Pujari, former MP Bhabani Shankar Hota and several local leaders were present. The District Bar Association is spearheading the agitation.
“People from adjoining Sonepur and Boudh districts have also arrived here to support the agitation. The government should cancel the proposed hydropower projects. Efforts will be made to bring in people of the three districts under one banner to oppose the Sindol projects,” said Suresh Pujari.
“If the government does not cancel its proposal, an anti-Sindol agitation will be organised in Bhubaneswar as well,” added Pujari.
Some among the protesters said that people who had been displaced by the building of the Hirakud and Rengali dams have yet to be rehabilitated.
“Water retaining capacity of the Hirkud reservoir has decreased considerably thanks to government negligence. The government should think of reviving the existing hydropower units in the state. Instead, it has decided to start new power projects,” said Harekrushna Hota, a resident of Huma.
