Locals stall Monnet power plant work

Construction work on the power plant of Monnet Ispat and Energy Limited has come to a grinding halt since July 18 due to the stir of the locals who demanded compensation for land and a proper rehabilitation package.

The affected locals of Malibrahmani village have stalled the construction of boundary wall and other structures by the company. The female members of the village under the banner of Mahila Sangh had recently locked the gate of the company’s office, demanding fulfillment of their demands. They also strongly opposed the alleged police atrocities on them while raising the demand for compensation.

The additional district magistrate had called a meeting on Saturday to resolve the issue but the women who participated in the meeting walked out of it, terming the attitude of the administration as pro-company.

The agitating women have demanded Rs 7.5 lakh per acre of land as compensation and job to all oustees above 18 years. They also objected to the lower land prices paid to them by Monnet Ispat and Energy while claiming that other companies were paying a higher price.

However, company officials said that the land price paid to the land losers was as per the decision taken by the Rehabilitation and Peripheral

Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC). “About 90 per cent of the land losers have received compensation. Monnet Ispat and Energy Limited has paid Rs 3.25 lakh per acre”, said a company official.