Kalinganagar locals demand return of land if project fails

Locals who lost their land for the setting up of a ferrochrome project by Misrilal Company at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district in 1992 have now demanded the return of land as the project has failed to take off.

The land losers led by the local Sarpanch and Panchayat Samiti member have started indefinite hunger strike since Saturday at the Kalinganagar Industrial Complex.

As many as 50 families of Nimapalli, Badasudi, Baghabahali, Pankapala, Ragadi and Hanumanta Patana had given up 67 acres of their cultivable land to Misrilal Company for the ferrochrome project

The company has failed to set up the ferrochrome unit despite being allotted land and mining lease for the project.

The agitating locals alleged that the company was carrying out mining activities in the Saruabil chromite mines and selling the raw materials in the market without bothering to set up the ferrochrome plant.

Earlier, the company had assured to give employment to the people whose lands were acquired for the plant.

“We have given our land with a hope to see the project coming up. But the company shelved it. Hence the government should return the land to the land-losers”, said Parsuram Bindhani, a land loser. Company sources could not be reached for comments. The land losers went on a hunger strike demanding the construction of a plant by the Misrilal Company or return their land to them. They have also given a seven-point charter of demands to the personnel manager of the company.