Angry Kalinga Nagar wants back lost land

SNS reported that land related problems continue to create trouble in Kalinga Nagar, the area touted to be the steel hub of India.

As per report, while a few steel plant projects have been delayed due to people’s resistance movements, even those who had given their land have now started demanding them back.

The people, who lost their land to the Misrilal Company Ferrochrome project at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district in 1992, want back their land following non establishment of the project. Significantly the land losers led by local Sarpanch and Panchayat Samiti member have started indefinite hunger strike since August 22nd at the industrial complex area.

The state government, with a view to promote industrialization had granted the Saruabil chromite mine in Sukinda chromite valley to Misrilal Company to put up a ferrochrome plant in Kalinga Nagar steel hub.

As many as 50 families of Nimapalli, Badasudi, Baghabahali, Pankapala, Ragadi and Hanumanta Patana had given up 67 acres of their fertile cultivable land to make way for the proposed project.

It is alleged by the agitating land losers that mining is being carried out and the materials are being sold without any signs of a plant coming up in the area.

This apart, earlier, an assurance had been given by the company to give employment to the people whose lands were acquired for the plant construction. Besides, better health care, qualitative education, safe drinking water, electricity and good road were promised to the to the people whose lands were acquired for the plant by the company.

But, the plant is yet to see the light of the day. This has angered the land losers and local people. A land looser said that “We gave up our land with a hope to see the project come up. But the company shelved it. Hence the government should return the land to the land losers.”

Mr Bhabani Purty Sarpanch of Pingal who is leading the agitation said that “Earlier the land losers were called for talks with Mr MK Patra, personnel manager of the company. But he expressed his inability to sort out the issue and assured them that he would intimate his higher authorities who would be present to settle the matter on 10 August. But no talks were held on the scheduled date as no one of the company was present.”

Mr Purty said that "Unless steps are taken by the district administration we will intensify our agitation.”

(Sourced from thestatesman.net)

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