Villagers travel extra miles for farmland

RAJGANGPUR(SUNDARGARH): The encroachment of the Kheramuta-Bihaband panchayat road under the mining expansion project of cement major OCL India Limited at Lanjiberna in Sundargah impacts an entire village. The villagers of Kheramuta who rely on agriculture for livelihood would now have to walk extra miles to reach their farmlands. The village is now virtually threatened by expansion of mining operations. While OCL authorities claim that the concerned panchayat road falls under its mining lease area and it has ensured alternative road, Kheramuta villagers are not bemused. They claim that the road encroachment has mounted their woes manifold. A woman, Chheno Lakra, said her agriculture land is located on the other side of the village and for decades they have been using the panchayat road to reach the place.  “All villagers are dependant on agriculture. Throughout the year they have to travel to their farmland carrying agriculture implements either on their shoulders or on bicycles. Now, they will have to toil more to reach their workplace.” Villagers fear to pass through the Lanjiberna mines after the December 2008 incident. A village youth Sushil Lakra was gunned down by OCL security guards, triggering days of tension. Tribal leader Litu Minz claimed that due to ongoing expansion of dolomite and limestone mines at Lanjiberna the villagers are exposed to unrestrained noise pollution. He says encroachment of the Panchayat road has directly impacted the villagers.  Earlier, the Lanjiberna-Bihaband road had met with the same fate and the Saleimuta-Kukuda road was diverted by OCL much to the chagrin of a large number of villagers in Kutra and Rajgangpur blocks. The villagers on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the district collector through the Rajgangpur Tehsildar for relief. OCL’s Chief of Mining Prafulla Das said the Kheramuta-Bihabandh road falls under OCL’s mining lease and for the convenience of the villagers an alternative road has been provided. District Collector Rupa Roshan Sahu said the administration would inquire about it for appropriate action.