Bhubaneswar: BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda on Wednesday came down heavily on the Odisha government over the construction of a mega drinking pipe water project over Kharasrota river at Bharigada in Rajkanika panchayat of Kendrapada district.
The former Kendrapada MP alleged that the government had forcibly started the project work to divert the river water without public hearings.
Stating that the people of Kendrapada district are concerned over the gradual depletion of the groundwater, he said that the state government instead of threatening the people should have taken note of their concern and consulted with them.
“Since such projects have a major environmental impact, the state government, as per rules, should have conducted public hearings,” the BJP leader pointed out.
“The state government, which is behaving like a mafia rather than the people’s representative, should reconsider its stand and engage the public with humility,” he added.
Also Read: Mega Drinking Water Project Site In Odisha’s Kendrapada Turns Into Battlefield
It may be mentioned that to ensure a hassle-free construction of the project, the district administration has clamped prohibitory under Section 144 in Balakati, Bharigada and Barunadiha panchayats for two months till October 8 to stop the entry of the people to the project site.
Protesting against the construction of the project, the people of these three panchayats under the banner of Kharasrota Banchao Sangram Samiti (KBSS) clashed with the police near the project site on August 12 and ransacked several vehicles and offices assets of a construction company.
Police later arrested 24 people for their alleged involvement in the violence.
