Satyanarayan Banchhor is a part time print journalist and the Secretary and spokesperson of one of Odisha’s most vibrant social movements. He is fighting against the submersion of his community’s land and his own home from the Lower Suktel Dam, in Balangir district of Odisha. Satya, as he is known, is committed to protecting this fertile, rich land from…

Satyanarayan Banchhor

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Banchhorpalli, Bolangir, Odisha | Satya Banchhor 

Banchhorpalli is a tribal dominated village that falls under Loisingha block of Bolangir district, Odisha. This village comes in the list of those 29 villages which would be submerged in Lower Suktel Dam project. The resident forest-dwelling tribe considers Mahua tree(Madhuca Longifolia) as a boon and keenly conserve this tree. They are dependent on the forest for at least 6 - 7 months in a year. For 2 months, their livelihood is sustained by selling dried Mahua flowers and leaves collected from the forest. This forest will also be submerged in the Lower Suktel Dam project.

No compensation is provisioned within new land acquisition act, 2013 for those who depend on forest produce. In Lower Suktel dam project area, people will be bereaved of that after they are displaced.

The people of Lower Suktel demand compensation for those dependent on these Mahua trees and other forest produce to be provisioned under the Land Aquisition Act, 2013 which is going to be implemented in the area. To support the people of Lower Suktel, please call the District Collector of Bolangir, M. Mutthu Kumar on +91- 9437023381 and pressurize him to help the community.

Satya Banchhor reports from Bolangir, Odisha for IndiaUnheard.