In Kendrapara, around 40 families from the Satabhaya area gathered outside the district Collectorate on Saturday, advocating for their relocation from their coastal village, which faces significant risks from sea erosion.

These families expressed their frustration over being left out of a previous relocation initiative that successfully moved 571 households to a rehabilitation site in Bagapatia, located about 12 kilometers away. They claimed their requests for relocation were submitted but ignored by local authorities.

Dharanidhar Nayak, a local resident, stated, “In 2018, 571 families were moved to a resettlement area in Bagapatia, while the remaining 40 families are now in peril as the sea continues to encroach upon our land. The shoreline, which was once 3 kilometers away, is now alarmingly close to our homes.”

Amita Malik, another villager, highlighted the dire situation, saying, “The sea has consumed our agricultural land, leading to a shortage of fodder for our livestock and feed for our poultry. Our drinking water has become saline. We can only survive if the administration facilitates our immediate relocation.” Jiban Malik, another villager, noted that several revenue villages within the Satabhaya Panchayat—such as Gobindpur, Mohanpur, Chintamanipur, Badagahirmatha, Sanagahirmatha, Kharikul, and Kanhupur—have already been lost to the advancing sea.

He further mentioned, “The sea has also engulfed the nearby Panchubarahi temple and Barahipurpada village. Cyclonic storms are now a frequent threat, and the sea is rapidly claiming more land. We implore the district administration to prioritize our relocation.” In response, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Nilu Mahapatra acknowledged the receipt of the relocation applications and confirmed that the administrative process for relocating the remaining families is currently in progress.