Locals demand public hearing cancellation of PPL

Farmers and land losers have demanded the cancellation of the public hearing for Paradeep Phosphates Limited's (PPL) expansion project scheduled to be held on February 14 at the PPL township at Paradeep.

These farmers and land losers have urged that the meeting needs to be conducted at Kujang or Bhutmundei areas to ensure safety and free access for the locals.

The farmers and the land losers feel unsafe to enter the PPL township which is kept strictly prohibited for outsiders by the PPL authorities.

Moreover, the people affected by the PPL's expansion project are living 10 km from the PPL township and it would be inconvenient for them to attend the public meeting if it is conducted at the township.

PPL has decided to expand its 2000 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) sulphuric acid plant to 2400 mtpa and 2400 mtpa DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) plant to 5000 mtpa.

The company proposed to have the environment impact assessment for its expansion project and accordingly, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) decided to conduct the public hearing on February 14 to seek the opinion of the locals.

Rabindranath Nayak, president of The Welfare Committee of the Farmers-Paradeep has also opposed the public hearing for PPL's expansion project at the PPL township.

He has instead demanded that the public hearing needs to be conducted either at Kujang or Butmundei.

Meanwhile, the farmers and the land losers have submitted a memorandum to the member secretary of OSPCB, the Jagatsinghpur district collector and other higher authorities, seeking change in the venue of the public meeting.

Meanwhile, Pitamber Tarai, convener of the locals Adhibasis has strongly protested the expansion plan of PPL on environmental grounds.

“Fertilizer plants are polluting the waters of the river and the sea by releasing chemical effluents into the water. They are also polluting the air and water with its emissions from the plant”, he alleged.