KalingaTV News Network
Nabarangpur: The members of Biju Janata Dal on Saturday observed a 12-hour bandh in Chandahandi block of the district protesting against alleged apathy of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for not issuing environment clearance for a proposed multi-purpose project on Tel river.
The protesters blocked all the roads connecting to Chandahandi block headquarter. With vehicular communication coming to a standstill in and outside the town, commuters had a narrowing time reaching their destinations.
Educational institutions, shops and other business establishments remained closed in the town due to the bandh. The weekly haat , which happens in every Saturday in Chandahandi, was also halted due to the bandh.
“The State government has already made a survey on Tel river and announced to establish the Tel Integrated project near Chandahandi with an estimated cost of Rs 1146 crore, but the Centre is not providing the required environmental clearance for the project and deliberately obstructing it,” said BJD activist Pramod Padhy.
“It has been a long-standing demand of the people from this area to construct a multipurpose dam over Tel River, which will supply water to 10,000 acres of agricultural land and produce 20 MW power. If the Centre will not issue the environmental clearance for the project at the earliest, we will intensify our agitation,” he warned.
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