KENDRAPARA: Boycotting rural polls have suddenly become a tool in the hands of sea-erosion hit villagers of Satabhaya Gram Panchayat (GP) in the district to express their resentment as the authorities failed to rehabilitate them. They alleged that for years, their demands and aspirations have remained unfulfilled.
Sources said large tracts of land in Satabhaya, a cluster of seven villages in the district, have been wiped out by rising sea levels. At present, the remaining two villages -- Satabhaya and Kanhupur -- are on the verge of extinction. The Bay of Bengal has consumed the other five villages namely Gobindapur, Mohanpur, Chintamanipur, Badagahiramatha and Kharikula.
Karunakar Swain, a villager of Satabhaya, said, “Due to sea erosion, Satabhaya’s areas have been reduced from 350 sq km in 1930 settlement map to around 140 sq km. In 1992, the State Government had decided to rehabilitate the erosion-hit villagers of Satabhaya at a safer place. On June 8, 2011, the district administration and the local MLA had laid a foundation stone for its construction. But nothing has been done so far.”
Last year, the Government again promised to shift the village before October 2016. But the proposed rehabilitation moves at a snail’s pace. Protesting the indifferent attitude of the Government, around 3,000 voters of the panchayat have decided to boycott the rural polls, said Nigamananda Rout, Sarpanch of Satabhaya.
“We will not allow any political leaders to enter our village for panchayat election campaign,” said Bharati Swain, a villager.
Kendrapara Sub-Collector Kanhu Charana Dhir said the State Government will rehabilitate all the 571 erosion-hit families with a population of 3,243 of Satabhaya on 133 acres of land in Bagapatia. The administration will also construct a school, a temple, a community centre, panchayat office and a cyclone shelter centre at Bagapatia.