A Section of Tribals Says no to OISL Expansion Proposal.

A section of tribal people opposed the proposal for expansion of OCL Iron and Steel Ltd. (OISL) at the public hearing conducted by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) at Kunkuru gram panchayat office under Rajgangpur block in Sundargarh district recently.

The tribals criticised the company and the district administration claiming that they were not given opportunity to speak at the hearing. But, officials of OSPCB refuted the allegation.

Sundargarh Zilla Gram Sabha Coordination Committee president Litu Minz said about 60 villagers from Kunmuru, Laxmiposh, Kheramuta, Kutunia, Guduali, Lanjiberna and Jampali were prevented from entering the meeting venue. He claimed goons hired by OISL were guarding the entrance and allowed only the villagers who would speak in favour of the expansion proposal. Minz claimed that it was done in the knowledge of local officials and they would draw the attention of Collector and higher officials of OSPCB.

Adihaq Jan Sangharsh Samiti president Abrahim Kullu said they would pass a resolution at gram sabha meeting to continue their fight. A villager, Soma Majhi of Kunmuru, said though they would be directly affected by the project, they were not allowed to speak.

Refuting the allegation, OSPCB Regional Officer Niranjan Mallick said no such incident came to their notice. He said the hearing was attended by about 300 villagers and 22 of them spoke in favour of the project while six written objections were received.

The OISL was established during 2001-02 as a coal based sponge iron production unit at Ramloi of Rajgangpur block. It now proposes modification-cum-expansion of the plant from 0.075 MTPA steel billets to 0.5 MTPA integrated steel plant. It also plans to enhance capacity of the captive power plant from 14 MW to 84 MW at an investment of Rs 1705 crore.

Sundargarh ADM RN Mishra and Mallick officiated the public hearing.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS