Protest Meeting by Lower Indra Public Awareness Forum Opposes Proposed Office Relocation

Konabira, August 24: The Lower Indra Public Awareness Forum, Konabira, organised a protest meeting opposing the proposed relocation of the Lower Indra Irrigation Office from Khariar to the Collectorate premises in Nuapada district headquarters. According to the forum, shifting the office would create serious difficulties for families who have been fully or partially affected by the Lower Indra Irrigation Project. The forum pointed out that the office is currently located at Khariar, close to several project-affected villages, allowing many affected families to reach the office within a distance of around 10 to 15 kilometres for various official requirements. However, if the office is shifted to Nuapada headquarters, people from some affected areas may have to travel nearly 80 kilometres to access its services, the forum claimed. Members expressed concern that affected families would have to undertake repeated and costly journeys for matters related to land, compensation and other project-related issues. The members demanded that the Lower Indra Irrigation Office should continue functioning from Khariar in the interest and convenience of the project-affected families. During the meeting, allegations were also raised that personal interests were involved behind the demand for shifting the office. The forum expressed dissatisfaction over an alleged request made to the Chief Minister for relocating the office under the leadership of BJP district president and advocate Kamalesh Dixit. However, these allegations could not be independently verified. The forum warned that it would intensify its agitation in the coming days in the interest of people from around 30 villages if the proposed relocation is not reconsidered. It appealed to the administration to give priority to the convenience and interests of fully and partially affected families and refrain from shifting the office from Khariar. Forum president Nilakantha Pradhan, secretary Kishore Chandra Kathar, joint secretary Tukaram Sagaria, advisers Girish Chandra Panigrahi and Ishwar Chandra Naik, along with Jagannath Majhi, Brajasundar Patel, Hari Majhi, Ghanshyam Karua, Kishore Majhi and other members of the forum and a large number of villagers were present at the meeting.