Eviction decision sparks off tension in slum

PARADIP: The decision to evict 445 families from the slum area in Sandhakuda here without any rehabilitation proposal for construction of sea surge protection wall and laying of pipeline for the oil refinery project of IOC has triggered tension in the area.  Sources said the State Government had given 266 acres in Sandhakuda area to Paradip Port Trust (PPT) authorities on lease but the PPT is yet to acquire the land. Around 2,000 Telugu fishermen families have been staying in the area since 1964. After the State Government directed PPT authorities to evict the families and take steps to rehabilitate them, the district administration formed a committee comprising PPT secretary, Paradip ADM, and Kujang tahasildar to rehabilitate them at Balijhari and Kansaripeta villages. But it was found that land was not available at Balijhari while eight acres of land at Kansaripeta have been given to Paradip municipality for construction of a solid waste management plant. At a time when PPT authorities are yet to identify the land for rehabilitation, steps have been taken to evict the families, said K Jagganath Rao, former councillor, Paradip municipality.  He said the fishermen possessed voter ID cards and been availing of essential commodities and other facilities from the State Government for long. Similarly, police and the administration have been pressing them into service to rescue people during boat tragedies and natural calamities, he said. Rao said PPT rehabilitated more than 100 Bangladeshi infiltrators of Ghanghalia area at different places of Bhitargarh and Balijhari a few years back but no step has been taken to rehabilitate the Telugu fishermen. Harassed, these slum-dwellers have threatened to take to streets if they are not rehabilitated properly. Ward 17 councillor Sandhkuda Kambala Shanti said if the authorities concerned pay no heed to their demand, the slum dwellers will launch an agitation soon. District Rehabilitation Officer Surjeet Dash said there was no proposal to rehabilitate the families as they have encroached upon the land. Bangladeshi infiltrators were rehabilitated as per the directive of the High Court, he clarified.