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Critics of Tata project ‘attacked’

CUTTACK: Yet another proposed project of the Tatas seems to have run into trouble in the State. After the Gopalpur and Kalinganagar projects, Tatas proposed thermal power project at Naraj, on the outskirts of the city, on Monday faced a massive public protest.

At the public grievance hearing of the State pollution control board for environment impact assessment of the project here, supporters of the project allegedly assaulted activists of the outfits who are opposing the project. “At least 50 persons were injured when henchmen of the company attacked us during the public hearing,” said Subash Singh, convener of the Cuttack Bachhao Andolan Committee.

“Even the handful of policemen who were present, instead of taking action against trouble makers, lathicharged innocent people who had come to ventilate their grievances,” Mr. Subash Singh added.

Besides the andolan committee, the Siddheswar Anchalik Surakshya Committee (SASC) and Jala Surakshya Samiti have been opposing the 1000 MW Tata Thermal Power Company Limited ever since the State government issued a notification about the project three months ago. They say the thermal power plant will severely disturb the ecological balance of the millennium city and also deprive about 20,000 villagers in the vicinity of their livelihood.

In protest against the attack on them, activists gheraoed Cuttack ADM Udaynath Nayak and district emergency officer Aditya Mohapatra for over five hours. The ADM had gone to preside over the meeting while the emergency officer was to facilitate the public hearing. They were however, rescued by the police around 4 p.m. Police also arrested one of the attackers from the locality.

When contacted, Mr. Mohapatra, who also holds the post of district land acquisition officer, said the district administration had no role in the meeting.

“While SASC president Jogendra Gadnayak was speaking, a section of the people created disturbances opposing the stand taken by the speaker. Soon a commotion took place following which the ADM adjourned the meeting,” Mr. Mohapatra said.

Mr. Subash Singh, on the other hand, alleged that the State government was not about giving any importance to public opinion before identifying the land for industrial development. If the project came up near Naraj, Cuttack would be the worst sufferer. “The groundwater level of the city would further deplete while vast tracts of agricultural land in the vicinity of Naraj would be destroyed,” he added.

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