Transit camps in border dists keep migrants safe

Bhubaneswar: Migrant workers and others returning to Odisha have been lodged in transit camps in border districts instead of being allowed to walk, cycle or travel in vehicles to cyclone-hit districts of Odisha and West Bengal to prevent them from coming to harm due to Cyclone Amphan on Wednesday.
Ganjam district that shares its border with Andhra Pradesh receives thousands of migrant workers and returnees.The district administration has set up a transit camp at Haladiapadar bus stand, on the outskirts of Berhampur, to provide food and shelter to people coming from other states. “We have provided them food, water and resting place before shifting them to their destinations. More than 30 buses carrying migrant workers and stranded people arrived at the Ganjam border on Wednesday,” said collector (Ganjam) Vijay Amruta Kulange.
Kulange said he himself stopped one truck carrying 10 migrant labourers from West Bengal and asked them to stay at the transit camp. “People cross into the district by walking, cycling and other means of transportation. Because of the cyclone in North Odisha and some parts of West Bengal, we are not allowing them to walk or cycle. After the cyclone passes off, we will send them to their destinations,” he added.
Bargarh that shares the border with Chhattisgarh is also receiving hundreds of migrant workers and stranded people at its border near Sohela. “We did not allow the people to move on Wednesday because of the cyclone and rain. We have kept them in our transit camp at Sohela. We will start sending them by buses or other vehicles later,” he added.
Jharsuguda collector Saroj Kumar Samal said they received migrant workers from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and most of them were heading towards West Bengal. They will be kept at the transit camp with all facilities, he added.
The border check points through which the stranded people can enter the state’s territory by road are Biramitrapur in Sundargarh, Champua in Keonjhar, Chandili in Koraput, Girisola in Ganjam, Jamshola in Mayurbhanj, Kerada in Rayagada, Khariar Road in Nuapada, Laxmannath in Balasore, Loharchoti in Bargarh, Motu in Malkangiri and Sunki in Koraput.
The respective district administrations have made arrangements for the returnees coming via road.
Around 11,295 Odias returned to Odisha on Wednesday. Since May 3, 2,03,220 Odias have come back.