Keonjhar: People of Talapada, a tribal village under Harichandanpur block in this district, now regret for giving their consent to state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) for its expansion project.
The authorities, after adopting the village, have misled the poor tribals after promising all round development of the area and jobs for the locals, villagers alleged.
According to reports, the primitive tribals of the district lead miserable lives thanks to pollution caused by massive mining activities. Even as it was difficult to bring back the healthy environment of past, the state government asked the mining companies to adopt the villages to ensure their all round development. However, the companies continue to ignore the direction in the absence of proper monitoring, it was learnt.
For example, OMC adopted Talapada village after managing the consent of the residents for its expansion project. The company had held gram sabhas and promised jobs for the villagers and development of the area at several public hearings. Locals gave their nod for the project trusting the version of the OMC officials. However, the authorities have not taken any measures to fulfill their promises even as two years have passed.
While the OMC officials, in a declaration during 2015, promised jobs for locals, the block administration assured to improve the roads, provide electricity and drinking water facilities. However, both have conveniently forgotten their promises, the villagers alleged.
Enraged, they sought the intervention of court in the matter since OMC along with other mining companies had made the promises in written on a stamp paper.
Though mining activities have been going on in the area for the last 60 years, the fate of the villagers has not changed a bit. The administration allocated a budget of Rs 7.38 crore for development of the village but the projects are yet to be implemented.
Talapada, surrounded by hills and dense forests from all sides and located 32 km away from the block headquarters, is not connected with a motorable road. Nearly 1,000 tribal people of 250 families inhabiting in the village get marooned in the rainy season. They mostly consume water of a stream and live in shanties as several houses under housing schemes have remained incomplete.
It is better not to speak of education facilities as 121 students have been enrolled in the primary school of the village but it has no classroom, rued some villagers. In the absence of an Anganwadi centre, pre-school classes are conducted under a tree, it was learnt.
Lalmohan Lohar, a senior citizen of the village, said OMC had set up a camp when mining started in the area. However, it forgot the village after the camp office shifted to Daitari, a newly set up village near the plant, Lohar added
He alleged the state-owned company took advantage of the simplicity of tribals. It promised so many things during gram sabhas to take the consent of the people, but never bothered to keep it, the elderly man claimed.
“While outsiders have been absorbed in the company and they make the most of it, the locals still sell tooth cleaning twigs to eke out a living,” said Laxman Mohanta, a tribal leader.
When contacted, OMC’s regional manager Subrat Mishra said the road projects are difficult to executive due to density of the forest. However, the company has deposited funds with the district administration for developmental works, Mishra added. PNN