Irate villagers attack Essar Steel employees

Nineteen employees of Essar Steel, including one engineer, were today attacked and held hostage by the irate villagers of Handia, near Paradip who were protesting against the laying of pipeline by the company in the area.

The employees were, however, rescued by the police after being held hostage for about four hours.

Three employees, who sustained injuries in the incident, have been hospitalized at Biju Memorial hospital, Paradip.

Sources said, nineteen employees led by the company engineer, Mahendra Majhi had gone this morning to the village to oversee the work on a portion of the pipeline which the company is laying from Keonjhar to Paradip for transportation of iron ore.

The villagers of Handia, who are affected by the Essar Steel project, protested the pipe line work demanding higher compensation and better rehabilitation package.

They expressed concern over possible fire hazards and probable environmental impact in the event of rupture or leakage of the pipe line.

In the last Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting, it was decided to give compensation at the rate of Rs 19.10 lakh per acre for the private land and also job opportunity to the land losers.

But the villagers of Handia complained that they are yet to get compensation at the agreed rate. The villagers also accused the company of not providing any employment opportunity to the local land losers.

Village head Gaurang Swain said, nearly 277 families of Handia village under Nuagarh panchyat, who were affected by this project, have been deprived of the compensation and rehabilitation package for last three years. They had aired their grievances before the district administration and company authority, but to no avail. Irate villagers protested the pipe line work last year following which the work was stopped to avert law and order situation.

However, 19 employees of Essar Steel today went to Handia village to start work. The villagers protested the move. The irate villagers assaulted the employees and took them hostage when they ignored the warning and went ahead with the work.

Essar Steel is setting up a pellet plant of 6 million tonne per annum in Paradip for which 909 families in seven villages have been identified for displacement.

The project requires 1925 acres of land which includes 1663 acres private and 262 acres government land. Besides, the project will have a 60 Mw coal based power plant.