NHRC Seeks Report From Odisha Chief Secy Over Lack of Communication for Tribals In Koraput

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked for an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Chief Secretary of Odisha and Koraput District Magistrate regarding the alleged hardships faced by tribals in three blocks of the Koraput district because of lack of communication facilities.

Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy had registered this petition before the NHRC following which the NHRC has asked the Odisha Chief Secretary and the Koraput District Collector to submit the ATR within four weeks.

The petitioner had stated that tribals of villages living in Koraput, Lamataput and Nandapur blocks of Koraput district are compelled to cross the Kolab reservoir using a dilapidated bridge risking their lives.

As per the petitioner, hundreds of habitations near Kolab reservoir get cut off from the mainland due to submergence after heavy rainfall.

Bodasuku and Lankaput gram panchayats situated just a few kilometres away from the district headquarters of Korapu, travel 60-70 km via Nandapur and Semiliguda to reach Koraput town due to lack of proper road communication

There is no all-weather road in the area so the locals are facing extreme difficulties during emergency situations. The petitioner added that a bridge between Suku and Koraput in Kolab region can allow road connectivity to these cut-off areas and improve access to communication, health, education and other facilities.