PARADIP: As many as five persons were injured in a clash between labourers and some supporters of a contractor at Putting village of Gopalpur panchayat under Tirtol police limits. The labourers were protesting use of machines in road works under the MGNREGS on Saturday. Putting village has 1.37 acres of pasture land that is being used as Melan Padia (congregation of gods) during various festivals. However, a local contractor in connivance with higher authorities dredged this land using a JCB machine for construction of a road under MGNREGS, which is not even necessary for the village, the locals said.Even the contractor had allegedly not taken permission from the RDC (central) and the District Collector for construction of the road. Gram Sathi Bikram Biswal alleged that the local officials gave the work to a contractor who enjoys patronage of the ruling party. “MGNREGA guidelines have been violated in this village on several occasions. The muster roll is deliberately not being maintained by officials concerned as machines are used instead of labourers in works,” he alleged. On Saturday morning, some villagers rushed to the spot when the dredging works were underway and protested illegal use of machines which led to a clash between them and supporters of the contractor. Five persons were injured in the clash. Of the five, four have been identified as Bharat Ojha, Kalandi Ojha, Prabodha Bal and Ganeswar Lenda. They have been admitted to a local hospital and two cases registered by both the groups. Meanwhile, villagers have sought the intervention of District Collector, the DRDA Project Director and the Tirtol BDO in conducting an inquiry into the matter. DRDA Project Director NK Sethi admitted to have received allegations.
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