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Clash hits land-levelling work at titanium project

BERHAMPUR: A group clash between villagers occurred near Kanamana village on Wednesday at the proposed site of the Indo-Russian titanium project near Gopalpur port in Ganjam district.

The clash marred the land levelling work started by the Indo-Russian company to initiate the construction work. Five persons were injured, one of them seriously, in the clash. Seriously injured Somnath Sahu was admitted to Chatrapur hospital.

Around 15 two-wheelers were damaged during the clash. The tents for workers erected by a construction firm involved in the work were ransacked and torched. But none of the group involved in the clash was opposed to the project.

The clash was due to village level political rivalry continuing in the area. Both groups wanted their men to be employed by the company for the construction work. As per the norms, the company officials had employed persons from families from nearby villages, who had given their land for the project. But the sarpanch of Kanamana wanted to get his men employed by the company as the work was being done near his village. It led to altercation and group clash.Chatrapur Sub-Collector Ajit Mishra and Ganjam SP Nitinjit Singh rushed to the spot. They could manage to pacify the matter. “Both groups wanted the work for the project to continue as it means employment for them in near future,” Mr Mishra said.

But Mr Mishra was too critical of the company officials, who had not informed the administration and police, before starting the work of the project.

“The total support and no opposition to the project even by people who have given up land for it seems to have made the company overconfident,” he said. He asked the company officials to learn from Kalinganagar incidents and always inform local administration and police about their plans and field work to avoid law and order situation.

The 250 acres needed for the first phase of the titanium project for establishment of its main plant is complete and the company has initiated process for the construction work.

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