Gunupur: Rayagada Collector Swadha Dev Singh on Tuesday walked to the Revenue bungalow from the Sub-Collector’s office after a mob of irate people from Kuturu village in Gunupur did not allow her to board her car for allegedly not listening to their grievance.
According to reports, during the grievance redressal today the residents of Kuturu village in Gunupur apprised the District Collector that unabated lifting of sand from the Kuturu sand bed makes their village prone to floods and urged her to put a stay on the lease process of sand lifting. However, the District Collector explained to them that the lease process of the sand bed was done per the rules and there was nothing she could do to address their demand.
But, the unsatisfactory reply coming from the District Collector irked the villagers and all of them staged a sit-in in front of the District Collector’s vehicle and did not allow her to leave in the car. With no other options left, Collector Swadha Dev Singh, accompanied by SP Vivekanand Sharma and other district officials, had to leave the spot by foot.
The enraged villagers were also seen following the Collector as she walked to the Revenue bungalow from the Sub-Collector’s office. Meanwhile, a scuffle also broke out between the police and the villagers. The police had to form a chain of personnel to safely escort the Collector.
As per reports, Gunupur tehsil has completed the lease process and a public hearing has also been completed for the lifting of sand from the Kuturu river bed. In addition, the leaseholder has also deposited the revenue for the same with the tehsil.
While people are protesting over illegal sand mining which poses a threat to the villages along the river, sources said that the actual reason is the conflict between the two groups in the village centred on the recent municipal elections.
Later, in the presence of Rayagada Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Sharma, Deputy Collector Lokanath Dalbehera, Tehsildar Sharat Naik, and BDO Shantiprabha Pradhan, a discussion was held with a representative group of villagers.
The agitation was called off after the District Collector promised the villagers that the district administration will visit the village and take stock of the situation after inspecting if sand lifting from the river bed poses threat to the village.
When asked about the incident, District Collector Swadha Dev Singh said that as the leasing process is done according to the law, lifting will be done given the government’s revenue interest, but the complaints of the villagers will also be taken into consideration. Regarding the security and traffic problems of the villages near the river, Singh said that she will visit the location and take appropriate action as deemed fit.
