Joda: A group of people belonging to families who lost their land due to iron ore mining by Tata Steel at Joda in Keonjhar district launched protests in front of the main gate of the company at 5:30 am Thursday.
The villagers said the company has been extracting iron ores from the lands of villagers for many years, but it has not paid any attention to the demands of the landless villagers.
The villagers face numerous problems as the company took over the village roads, jungles and cremation ground.
Sources said Tata Steel had assured the villagers employment in their plant and that the company will launch development projects in the area. The company has built walls around the acquired land now. The cremation ground of the village has also been seized by the company.
The villagers said they were finding it difficult to cremate their kin as there is no cremation ground. The villagers have been protesting against the illegal acts of Tata Steel for two decades.
Tata Steel started iron ore mining in Joda in 2000. The company had promised villagers permanent employment, a hospital with free treatment, revival of agricultural fields and a new cremation ground. Although 19 years have passed none of the promises have been fulfilled.
The villagers said they have been complaining to the Champua Collector, Sub Collector and Tata Steel authorities in vain.
Villagers said their paddy fields are losing fertility as the company has turned them into a stockyard for dumping iron ore powder and metal fines.
Although the company is mining iron ore from around 100 acres here, it is sending it to Tata Steel plant in Jharkhand.
Women leader Upama Nayak said if the police arrest them under pressure from the company they will continue their protests in the police station too.
Tata Steel’s senior official Bijeyendra held talks with the protesters, but it yielded no results. When reporters asked Bijeyendra for his reaction he replied, “I am not the authorised person.”
The protesters said that people from Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and UP were appointed as drivers and to other posts a few months back. They said the company has no concern about local youths.
Tata Steel employees had to return to their homes as the protesters had locked up the gate. They told the company authorities that they would continue their protests till their demands are accepted.
PNN
