Post News Network
Rourkela, Feb 6: A ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation by MLA George Tirky, protesting land acquisition and construction of a fly-ash pond of NTPC-SAIL Power Company Pvt Ltd (NSPCL) at Barkani village under Bandamunda police limits here, evoked lukewarm response here Friday. The protest was organised under the banner of Advasi and Mulabasi Bchao Manch (AMBM).
Tirky said: “I am not against development. But you cannot ignore the causes of the tribals. I am fighting for the cause of tribals.” The district administration had deployed 35 platoons of police force (over 1,000 personnel) at all strategic places including Barkani, Bandhamunda, Bisra and Vedvyas to meet any eventuality, said a police officer.
The others taking part in the movement are former JMM MLA Halu Mundari, AMBM convenor Letha Tirky and leader Lili Kujur. The protesters said that the company would not be allowed to go ahead with the NSPCL project of constructing a fly-ash pond at Barkani as it would displace villagers who have been living there for several decades.
As per direction of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), the RSP and the NSPCL was supposed to come up with the fourth fly-ash pond at Barkani. Consequently, RSP has handed over its 140 acres of land to NSPCL to set up fly ash dyke (or pond-D) at Barkani.
However, AMBM members say that thousands of acres of land of tribals of Barkani were taken by RSP long back with the promise of
returning the un-utilised land to the locals according to a 2013 ordinance.
The un-utilised land has not been returned to the poor
people, they alleged.