Kalinganagar: Sagar Cement that has acquired land through the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) in Kalinganagar industrial area in Jajpur district and has started construction has allegedly been selling the murram and soil excavated from its site without permission from the revenue department.
The company’s cement grinding unit with a capacity of 1.5MT per annum is under construction at an estimated outlay of Rs 400 crores in Kalinganagar industrial area. The company has promised to spend Rs 2 crores for the peripheral development.
At the same time, the plant has proposed to employ 250-300 people during construction period and only 58 people during the production period. For the plant, lands measuring 26.50 acres of Tangarasahi, Arasahi, Kacherisahi, Gola Gaon, Baligotha, Manatira, Dakarapada and Pankapala villages have been acquired through IDCO.
The public hearing conducted before the land acquisition was made successful with the company promising proper value for the acquired land, job opportunities and engagement of local youths as contractors.
As of now, it seems the company has forgotten its promises it made to the villagers who gave away their lands. While the construction work is presently going on, affected people have been demanding employment as the company had promised jobs to 250-300 during the construction period.
In this regard, a tripartite meeting between Kalinganagar ADM, Kalinganagar additional SP, plant authorities and the affected people was held December 27, 2019.
In the meeting it was decided that the plant would give compensation to land losers, employment to local youths during construction period and production period, drinking water to the villagers and preference to local youths to work as contractors.
Affected people alleged that the company has not honoured even a single promise as yet.
Far from giving employment to affected youths, it has been over a month since the company has been selling the murram and soil excavated from the site illegally and earning lakhs of rupees, causing losses to the government exchequer.
When contacted, Danagadi tehsildar Namrata Modi said revenue inspector Phulamati Murmu has already done an enquiry into the allegation and submitted a report.
“Similarly, Manatira revenue inspector has also been asked to conduct an enquiry and find out how much murram and soil has been excavated. After getting the report, action as per law would be initiated against the plant,” added Modi.
PNN