Balangir, Sept. 16: The 20-day relay hunger strike by the Lower Suktel Action Committee was called off late last night following intervention of chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

The committee members broke the fast after special secretary of the state water resource department Harischandra Behera assured them of arranging a meeting with the chief minister for a final decision on their demands.

The agitators, who have been on strike for the past 20 days, locked up the district collector’s office yesterday after expiry of their 72-hour deadline. Last night, on Naveen’s instruction, Behera held a two-round talk with the committee members. He expressed his inability to commit anything as most of the demands were related to the revenue department.

Committee co-ordinator Arun Mishra said though the talk with the special secretary remained inconclusive, the committee decided to call off the strike for the time being, as he assured to apprise the government of their demands. “The strike was called off as Nuakhai, the festival of western Odisha, was round the corner,” he said.

“I have heard the committee’s demands and grievances of people of the project area over land acquisition and rehabilitation. I will convey these to the government,” Behera said.

The state government had earlier announced that it would begin the work of spillway of the project from September 27. The irrigation project, which was sanctioned 12 years ago, had failed to take off because of resistance by displaced people.