Talcher: Residents of Dharampur and Kankili panchayats in Angul district Thursday staged strong protests against a private company that has secured a tender for coal mining in the area. Villagers asserted that they would not allow any private firm to acquire land under any circumstances.
They also turned back vehicles that had arrived to conduct borewell surveys and drilling work. A delegation later met Talcher Sub-Collector Ashish Ranjan Sahu to lodge their protest. Residents of Dharampur alleged that despite sustained opposition from locals, company officials were attempting to create divisions among villagers and holding meetings with a small group to push ahead with the project.
Tension flared up when two borewell drilling vehicles of the company reached Dharampur with the support of a few persons Thursday, but locals resisted and forced them to leave, the villagers said. At an earlier meeting held at the sub-collector’s office, it was decided that drilling would not be carried out without the consent of residents from the two panchayats.
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Despite this, some persons allegedly joined hands with company officials and are now attempting to initiate drilling work in Dharampur area. Following complaints by Dharampur panchayat residents to the sub-collector, a meeting was convened involving company representatives and selected villagers.
After locals demanded that the meeting be held in the presence of all residents, it was conducted with the participation of more than 500 men and women from three villages. Presiding over the meeting, the sub-collector told company officials that drilling work cannot begin without the consent of the residents. The official advised the company to visit villages and hold discussions with locals.
Tehsildar Alfa Jena, SDPO Bharat Sahu and officials of the Rungta company were present at the meeting.
