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

Satyanarayan Banchhor| Buda Bahal Village, Bolangir District, Odisha

The Lower Suktel Dam project will submerge Buda Bahal Village of Bolangir district. Residents of the village, who are entirely dependent upon agriculture and forest produce for their livelihoods have been opposing the project and asking for forest land pattas for the last three years, however nothing has moved. Members of the forest rights committee in the village say that they have appealed to the government several times in the past. “ The government wants to give us compensation but how long will the money last us? Our livelihoods depend upon the agricultural land and forests,” says one resident.

Please call M. Muthukumar, Distirct Collect of Bolangir District on +91 9437023381 and appeal to him to ensure that all villagers get their forest land pattas.