Bhubaneswar: Nearly three months after violence erupted in Kandhamal, the Orissa government today admitted that "calm" was yet to return in three of the 12 block areas in the tribal dominated district.

"Raikia, G Udaygiri and Tikabali blocks are not yet calm as it should be", Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters after a meeting with team from centre which visited Kandhamal yesterday.

Patnaik's reaction came hours after Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar described the situation in Kandhamal as "tense" though efforts were on to restore normalcy.

Stating that the government was working whole heartedly for bringing back normalcy in all parts of the backward district including the three blocks, Patnaik said peace and harmony needed to be restored.

Economic and developmental activities had ground to a halt in the strife-torn district in view of violence which was triggered by the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others on August 23 at Chakapada.

As tension continued to prevail in certain pockets of Kandhamal, those sheltered in the relief camps were unwilling to return to their villages as they felt insecure and feared fresh attacks, sources said.

Agricultural activities were hit hard due to the unrest as those who had fled to the forests were afraid of returning to their homes and start harvesting of standing paddy.

Even Pawar voiced worries that the crops would be lost and farmers would suffer huge loss if the situation did not improve within the next eight to ten days.
Source : PTI