Jajpur: Ramco Cement Ltd has allegedly violated norms in setting up its proposed cement grinding unit at Haridashpur under Dharmasala tehsil in this district with the tacit support of an influential ruling party leader, a report said Sunday.
The Tamil Nadu-based cement firm is establishing its plant over a hundred-acre land at a cost of Rs 440 crore without entering into any agreement with the local residents. The acquired area includes farmlands, temple lands, a cremation ground, pasturelands and water bodies.
The company is alleged to have acquired the lands of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people without conducting any public hearings and in complete violation of the Odisha Land Acquisition Act. It has not even received environmental clearance for its project which is likely to contribute to pollution once it gets completed.
While Emami Cement Ltd and JSW Cement followed all norms and conducted public hearings for construction of their plants, it is alleged, Ramco has managed to get preferential treatment in exchange of heavy kickbacks with the ruling party leader.
It is feared that the project will hit over 30,000 people in the area and they are unlikely to get any employment opportunities in the cement plant. The district administration, the district revenue department and the regional office of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board are silent on the alleged violation of norms by the cement firm.
According to data available under the Right to Information Act, the assistant collector in his reply (Letter No 3661, dated 14.12.2017) has refused having any knowledge about the development. This has sparked sharp resentment among the land losers as their problems still remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, an outfit Ramco Birodhi Janmanch is spearheading an agitation on behalf of the land losers in the area. The cement plant, when completed, will lead to heavy dust and water pollution and regular plying of vehicles will make life hell for the residents.
The affected people of Batijanga, Talar, Thanual, Jogada, Muraripur, Nanpur, Haridashpur Udanga, Bajabati, Bhaturuposhi and Rathia villages have warned they will give a befitting reply in the coming elections if their pleas are not addressed at the earliest.
The firm, after laying the foundation stone for its plant eight months back, is currently engaged in survey for construction of compound walls, deployment of security guards and other infrastructural works.
However, it is yet to take any steps on providing compensation and employment facilities to the land losers. The firm is not even engaging any casual labourer from the area in the construction work.
When contacted, Ramco Cement GM Sudhansu Gantayat said there is no need of conducting public hearing as per the agreement while the manufactured cement will be transported by rail. However, the company will certainly look after peripheral development and in resolving the local problems, he added.
PNN
