Jhumpura: Tribals are riled over an alleged bid by Rashmi Mettalic Limited to measure land ahead of construction activity at an illegally laid siding of the company in Jhumpura tehsil of Keonjhar district, a report said.
The tribals of Nengedapali also alleged the firm has not only started measuring the land but also cleaned the area, which has long been in controversy over illegality.
Upset over the development, many tribals, who have lost their farmland to the siding, have drawn the attention of the tehsildar and the divisional forest officer.
In their complaint, the land loser families of Gura Munda, Nanda Munda, Regela Munda and Char Munda stated that they had handed over their valuable 8 acres of farmland to the company in 2007-8 for construction of the siding on the promises of peripheral development of village, job opportunities to locals and right price for land.
Besides, the firm acquired 1 acre and 30 decimals of cremation ground and several acres of DLC forestland, they added.
The area was then densely forested. The company felled a large number of trees and dug out hills for laying the rail track without taking necessary administrative permission, the tribal alleged, claiming that permission has not been granted for rail siding.
When such illegality came to the fore, construction of the siding was abandoned.
Acting on the alleged illegality, the administration had carried out an investigation into the matter and imposed a fine of Rs 35 lakh on the firm for illegally felling trees and excavating hill. The issue was also referred to the forest department. Orissa Post had reported the issue August 28, 2015.
The tribals also claimed that they have not yet received their compensation from the company. With land under the occupation of the company, they are unable to make use of the agricultural land, they rued.
Even as this tangle is yet to be sorted out, the firm again made a fresh bid to measure the land and cleared the area without depositing the penalty amount and taking permission of the tehsil and the forest department, the tribals alleged.
Jhumpura tehsildar Janak Nayak said the proposal will be sent to the higher-ups for consideration if the firm deposits the penalty and furnishes necessary documents at the office. If it undertakes work illegally, action will be taken against it, he added.
DFO Rohit Kumar Lanka said as the firm has not received forest department clearance, it cannot undertake work there. PNN
