KENDRAPARA: In what gives credence to recurring illegal immigration trends, the demographic profile in infiltration-hit villages of this coastal district has swelled to an alarming scale since the 2001 census operation. If the projections made by an official survey are any indication, the population in at least 97 seaside villages has gone up by over 20 per cent since 2001 census figures. These villages, which have notoriety for unabated influx of both migrant Bengali-speaking people and Bangladeshis, are shortly going to be covered under National Multi-Purpose Identity (NMPI) cards. Coastal villages of Kendrapara district will be covered under a comprehensive survey coupled with issuance of multi-purpose identity cards to the settlers. The survey programme is getting underway as part of National Population Register (NPR) exercise to intensify vigil along coastal villagers in the wake of the terror attacks in Mumbai in November last year. The projected population growth in these 97 coastal villages is distinctively on a higher side and it is quite disproportionate to demographic growth in other parts of this district, according to official sources. The break-up these villages marked by massive population rise is Rajnagar block (55), Mahakalpada (38), Patkura block (3) and Rajkakina block (1). The projected population figure, according to NPR findings, in these coastal villages stands at little over one lakh natives while the 2001 census points toward settlement of 81,511 residents in these seaside villages and hamlets. Of the projected population findings, as many as 39,681residents are from fishermen community, said official sources. It appears most likely that projected figure would be on the lower side and the actual population may go up further after the completion of NPR survey, said NPR enumerators. The latest NPR projections have amply laid bare the disturbing trend of unchecked influx of migrant settlers. Of the 97 villages marked down for issuance for coastal identity cards, the migrant Bengali-settlers were found outnumbering the local natives in majority of villages and hamlets. An interesting aspect of the projected demographic pattern is that there are a number of cent percent Bengali settlement villages in the NMPI-marked-down areas. The villages bearing the brunt of migrants’ incursion are Vekta, Krushnapriyapur, Batighar, Raja Rajeswaripur, Badatotta-Chapalli, Barakolikhola, Suniti, Bhateni, Kantilo, Kandarapatia, Kharnasi, Kochila, Nipania, Petchella, Jamboo, Ramnagar, Suigola, Tantiapala, Tubi (Bada), Ahirajpur, Amarabati, Anantakeshari, Banipala, Birahanjapur, Debendranarayanpur, Shailendranarayanpur, Talchua, Rangani, Pravati, Sundaripala, Tikayatnagar and scores of other hamlets. The seaside villages in this district are widely regarded as a major infiltration zone for Bangladeshi illegal immigrants. While officially 1677 Bangladeshis are firmly ensconced in these pockets, the infiltrators’ number for all practical purpose is very much on the higher scale. In 2005 year, 1551 enumerated Bangladeshis had been served Quit India notice. But later allegedly under political compulsion, the move to deport the foreign nationals was put on hold. (VISAKED)
