Chhatrapur: Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) authorities Tuesday organised a public hearing near the plant at Matikhalo here in Ganjam district to obtain environmental clearance for its proposed new unit.
However, the hearing presided over by additional district magistrate Bijay Kumar Dash, ended amid noise and confusion, it was learnt. Earlier, the hearing was postponed due to public protest. While the representatives of political parties and village leaders expressed their opinions at the meeting, some people continued with their protest against the project.
Tension mounted on the scene as several people rushed to the podium demanding scrapping of the hearing. Authorities immediately sought the help of police as the situation was slipping out of hand.
Tehsildar Shuvendu Sahoo, Chhatrapur SDPO Ramesh Chandra Sethi, Chamakhandi IIC Ashok Parida and revenue officials tried to pacify the angry mob and asked them to express their views one by one on the podium.
Most of the people opposed the expansion plan of IREL. Many people were seen leaving the place without giving their opinions.
At the beginning of the hearing, IREL chief manager GK Nayak spoke about the details of the expansion plan. The unit would process 1,900 tonne zircon and 3,500 tonne of ilmenite annually and ensure all-round safety in peripheral areas, Nayak said. While the authorities would spend `4.5 crore for the protection of environment, a package of `35 lakh has been kept aside for corporate social responsibility initiatives, he added.
IREL, a government of India undertaking, functioning under the department of atomic energy for mining and separation of beach sand minerals, has planned the unit which is considered as one of its kind in the country. The proposed unit can be shifted to other locations of the country if people continue to resist the proposal, officials had earlier said. PNN
