Kukurpeta Micro-Irrigation Project: HC Stops Salary of DMs and 2 Others Till Land Losers Get Compensation

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has ordered the Government to stop paying salaries to the Angul district Collector and the other two district administrative officials until the affected families are compensated, which is a significant relief for the displaced families of the Kurupeta micro-irrigation project in Angul district.

Even though they have greatly suffered as a result of the High Court’s order, the displaced people have expressed their gratitude for it.

Information indicates that in 1961, the property was purchased from villagers for the Kukurpeta micro-irrigation project. At that time, the project had cost the cultivable lands of about 118 families. The land losers still haven’t got compensated after 60 years.

At the High Court, Pramod Kumar Pradhan and others filed a petition. The Angul district collector and two other officers won’t receive salaries until the land losers have been compensated, the High Court ruled in its ruling.

During the Khariff and Rabi seasons, the micro-irrigation project irrigated 587 hectares of land in the villages of Kasidiha, Karadabahali, Thalipasi, Brahmanbila, and Balinala. However, the project has remained defunct as canal repairing work is not being done. However, water cess is being collected from farmers.