Balimela cut-off area tribals end four-day demo

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2010/02/20/stories/2010022053070300.htm)
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Balimela cut-off area tribals end four-day demo


Staff Reporter


BERHAMPUR: The agitating tribals from cut-off areas of Balimela reservoir suddenly called off their agitation on Friday after four-day of protest demonstration. Meanwhile, 16 elected members of panchayats of cut-off areas resigned. According to tehsildar of Chitrakonda D.Goplakrishna, the elected representatives, including eight sarpanches and panchyat samiti members, handed over their resignation letters to the Additional Block Development Officer of Kudumulguma.
In their resignation letter these elected representatives stated that they resigned as they had failed to fulfil the demands of their people and despite their request and agitation the Malkangiri district collector had not preferred to come to Chitrakonda to hold discussions with them.
But according to sources, threat of naxals may be reason behind submission of resignation letters by these elected representatives. It is also suspected that Maoists had a role in instigating the tribals of cut-off area to come out for the agitation and end it abruptly. The issues raised by the tribals of cut-off area are quite genuine. The cut-off area has remained a safe haven for the Maoists operating in Orissa-Andhra border region. These tribals were first displaced by Machkund Hydel Project, which got completed in 1948. They were then settled in Chitrakonda area. Then the Balimela Hydel project was taken up in 1964. The same tribal families were again shifted further downstream. Since then these villages have remained water locked by the Balimela reservoir. They do not have even basic amenities like electricity, health facility, communication etc till now.
It may be noted that the tribals of cut off area had taken up a similar long indefinite stir at Chitrakonda in July last. It had continued for 10 days. The tribals had called off their agitation following a long list of promises from the then collector of the district. This time also more than 5,000 tribals had come to Chitrakonda crossing the reservoir on Feb 15 to put the tehsil town under seize.
The district collector had held discussions with leaders of agitators over phone regarding the measures being initiated for improvement in facilities in cut-off area.






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