BHUBANESWAR: Prakrutik Sampad Surakshya Parishad (PSSP), spearheading movement against displacement caused by the proposed alumina refinery of Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL) in Kashipur of Rayagada district, opposed the civil construction for the project alleging that the company was violating constitutional right as well as environmental guidelines. Activists of PSSP have been staging a dharna at the project site near since December 20. The UAIL recently shifted villagers of Ramibeda and Kendukhunti to temporary rehabilitation colony and bulldozed their houses, PSSP convenor Bhagaban Majhi alleged.``Our dharna has been peaceful but we are being threatened by police as well as goons to leave the place. We don't know how long it will to take to stop the illegal construction work,'' he said.

Tribals agitation

A sizable tribal population in Kashipur area has been opposing UAIL project since 1993. Even three tribals who took part in an agitation protesting the project were killed in police firing at Maikanch on December 16, 2000. The PSSP said the company did not have valid environmental clearance of Ministry of Environment and Forest to go ahead with the project.

``The environment clearance obtained by the company for the project expired in 2000. The UAIL has also not obtained forest clearance to start civil construction work,'' Debaranjan Sarangi, another PSSP activists, said.

He alleged the company had not even taken consent of gram sabhas to acquire land for the project. ``On many occasions, the public hearings were conducted amidst heavy deployment of police personnel. The hapless could not express their views in that circumstance,'' Mr Sarangi said. While the UAIL failed to take people into confidence for its one million tonne alumina refinery and 50 mega watt power plant, it was getting ready with another expansion plan which was illegal, he alleged.

The PSSP said it would continue to protest against the proposed alumina refinery as it was threat on natural resources.

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