The proposed Lower Suktel Irrigation Project across river Suktel, a major tributary to Mahanadi river seeks to supply irrigation and drinking water to the Balangir district in Odisha. The initial survey for the project was conducted in 1979 and the Environment and Forest Ministry approved its environment clearance in 1998. As per the plan, a dam was to be built on the Jhareidunguri hill near village Magurbeda in Balangir. Since its inception, the estimated cost of the project has increased from the initial sum of Rs 217.13 crore in 1998 to almost Rs 4,500 crore in 2018.
Despite being a drought-affected district, the local community has staunchly opposed the project since the 1990's. It is estimated to submerge around 5000 hectares of land (severely impacting around 29 villages) and 583 hectares of forest area. A total of 9,000 families who are dependent on these lands for their livelihood would be affected by the project. Protesters have organised themselves under the banner of Lower Suktel Budianchal Sangharsha Samiti (LSBAP). In 2013, the protestors including local farmers, adivasis and journalists were met with lathi charges. Further, dedicated resettlement efforts have been lacking with many having been denied due compensation for their lands. There have also been speculations of large scale corruption related to compensation for rehabilitation schemes for the district.
The High Court on 18 May 2016 rejected the land acquisition notification of the state government on the basis of which it had acquired land in proposed lower Suktel River Dam project. Identifying discrepancies in the land acquisition notification process -a division bench consisting of justice Ms Sanju Panda and Justice K.R.Mohapatra rejected the land acquisition for the project. At a time when the Lower Suktel project has gathered political storms the judgement comes as a setback for the state government. However, work on the irrigation project re started on 2017.
While around 70 percent of the spillwork for the project had already been completed, the project faced yet another derailment from 2018 due to Mahanadi Water dispute. Citing the Minister of State for Water Resources Raghunandan Das, it was reported on 13 February 2021 that the project's resumption was contingent on the verdict by the Mahanadi River Water Disputes Tribunal's. At the end of the month on 28th February, it was reported that the second phase of construction work for the project had begun and that families in 15 out of 29 at- risk villages have been compensated as per Resettlement and Rehabilitation policy, 2006. In February 2021, project chief engineer Niranjan Rout said “Dialogue is on to address other issues. Currently, base stripping work has started.”
On 17 April 2023, Chudapali became the third village to be partially demolished, following Paradhia Pali and Khutpali, in government-led demolition drives. While many have moved to rehabilitation colonies, some villages are resisting demolitions, like Dunguripali, where villagers claimed that the government has deliberately cut off electricity and water supply to force them to leave. Concerns such as improper rehabilitation process without granting compensation to many victims, uninhabitable tin houses, along with a lack of access to educational facilities and other essential services, contributed to their reluctance to relocate.
In the meantime, the project was inaugurated on 3 January 2024 by former CM Naveen Pattnaik.
In December 2024, the National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM), along with activists and victims, highlighted the severe hardships faced by those affected in a press conference. It was stressed that many relocated victims have not received adequate compensation and rehabilitation, and those resettled in rehabilitation areas are living under dire conditions and lack access to basic necessities. NAPM convener Prafulla Samantara accused the authorities of violations of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. He alleged that most displaced families were compensated under the outdated 2006 Act, which provides significantly less financial and legal protection. Many landless individuals have been coerced into living in 15" x 12" tin sheds, with Rs 1 lakh deducted from their compensation to cover these arrangements. He added that many students have had to abandon their education, and families are struggling with a lack of healthcare and job opportunities.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Refusal to give up land for the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
2024
Whether the Project has been Delayed
No
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
4500
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
1998
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Environmental Law, Land Acquisition Laws, Central/State Government Policy, Land Acquisition Laws, Land Acquisition Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Non-payment of compensation/promised compensation
Delay in compensation
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
National Green Tribunal
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Orissa High Court
Case Number
WP(C) No. 7193 of 2019
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Displacement
Lathicharge/teargas/pellets
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha, Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP) of Central Water Commission, Central Water Commission, Mahanadi River Water Disputes Tribunal
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Local farmers, Indigenous groups or traditional communities
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
