Keonjhar: Normal life was hit in Telkoi block in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Tuesday in response to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Chakdar Project Closure Coordination Committee demanding the shutting down of Samakoi-Chakdar irrigation project on the Samakoi River under Kardangi panchayat.
The bandh is being supported by all political parties and social organisations in the region.
According to reports, vehicular traffic came to a standstill and schools, colleges and markets remained closed. A large procession left the Charigarh College grounds in Telkoi and after going around the market and assembled at the tehsil office. Through the tehsildar, a memorandum was sent to the Chief Minister for the complete closure of the Samakoi-Chakdar project.
The local residents have been opposing the project for 46 years. They allege that once the project is completed at Chakdar downstream of Samakoi River, a major part of Telkoi block in Keonjhar district will be submerged and many people will be displaced. At the same time, agricultural lands in Keonjhar district will not get irrigation facilities. Instead, Pallhada and Kaniha areas in the neighbouring Angul district will be irrigated. Many villages of Telkoi fear that the area will be submerged and Telkoi will become a reservoir. It will also result in displacement of numerous families, they apprehend.
Earlier, seven villages of Telkoi block were submerged due to the construction of Baradhar irrigation project across Ramial River in the Kaliahta area in Telkoi block. Till date, many villagers are deprived of government assistance, and the locals are protesting against the ongoing project to construct the Samakoi-Chakdar project on the Samakoi River in Telkoi.
