The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused that the Naveen Patnaik government is not serious about addressing the rehabilitation and resettlement issues as well as ensuring coal mines, which are mainstay of economy of Angul district, run smoothly.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Kalandi Samal, BJP’s member of Programme, Planning and Implementation (PPI) committee and local leader of Talcher, said: “The BJD government was unhappy after the Central public sector units refused to take part in government’s cheap food programme, Aahar. Now the State government is harassing the PSUs by sponsoring strike in coal mines.”
“Coal mines in Talcher coalfield are being closed at the behest of the BJD. The district administration headed by District Collector is also aiding BJD-sponsored strikes. Due to frequent strikes, thousands of daily wage earners have lost their livelihood and transporters are incurring heavy loss,” Mr. Samal said.
“The Chief Minister from Bhubaneswar has been directing the administration to solve displacement issue in Angul district, but he is perhaps unaware that the posts of land acquisition officer and rehabilitation and resettlement officer are lying vacant for about four years,” he pointed out.
“Talcher block is probably one region in the country where people have seen large displacement. Talcher used to have a rehabilitation and resettlement office to deal with the situation. Now due to vacancy, people are facing inconveniences,” Mr. Samal said.
