Orissa agrees to 8/14 Naxal demands

BHUBANESWAR: Maoists have made 14 demands for the release of Malkangiri collector R Vineel Kumar and junior engineer Pabitra Mohan Majhi. A key mediator told ET the release of the hostages may take some time as a key rebel ideologue is still behind bars. The two officials were abducted on February 16.

Even as talks between Maoist chosen mediators and the government resumed on Monday morning, the rebels called for a State-wide bandh to press for the release of their jailed colleagues. State Home Secretary UN Behera said the Maoists have put forth 14 demands. “We have so far come to agreement on eight issues,“ he said. “The State Government has agreed to pursue with the Centre enlisting of Konda Reddy and Mukadora communities as tribals. On the demand to stop Polavaram project by the Andhra Pradesh government, we are anyway opposed to the project from the very beginning as the dam in its present height and flood control design will displace tribals in both states. We have filed a case in the Supreme Court against the Central Water Commission and Government of India,” said Behera.

On issue of pattas to tribals of Narayanpatna, Behera said, “the government is alive to the need of protecting interests of tribals. Senior officers in the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary with statutory powers will be posted in tribal dominated districts like Koraput and Malkangiri. Behera hinted of forming a panel to address various land-related problems of tribals.

The fifth issue is about extension of canal from Kotipali to Maribada in Kalimela block area. “Steps have already been taken to construction an aqua duck in that area so that the canal can be extended up to Maribada. The state government has now decided that the work on extension of this canal will start very soon and Rs 50 lakh has been earmarked,” he said.

Regarding the irrigation of left out agricultural land of Manyamkonda village, a detailed survey has been done, Behera said adding that it was found that extension was not feasible because of the height of the project.