Stir stalls Tata's chrome plant work

Agitation by youths from displaced and affected families stalled construction work on Tata Steel's ferrochrome plant at Chamakhandi near Gopalpur in south Odisha.

A total of 46 youths trained by the steel company are sitting on dharna at the site, demanding permanent jobs in the project. These youths were engaged by a contractor chosen by Tata Steel to construct the 55,000 tonne per annum (tpa) ferrochrome plant, which is coming up at the industrial park being developed by the steel major.

The park is poised to draw investments of the order of Rs 10,000 crore.

"The company authorities assured us to provide jobs. But the company is not keeping its promise. We want permanent job at any of its plants in the state," said B Mohan Reddy, one of the agitators.

"We will not allow construction of the plant till our demands are fulfilled," he added. The agitating youths are now working under the contractor at a compensation of Rs 10,000 per month.

In parallel, another group of youths also belonging to the displaced families, launched their agitation from Monday, demanding permanent jobs in the plant.

Company sources said, the group of 46 trained persons were provided jobs outside the Gopalpur project. They, however, refused the offer and demanded monthly assistance. They insisted on a compensation of Rs 10,000 per month for each person without any linkage to skill and experience, said a company release.

As rehabilitation and resettlement policy is in final stage of implementation, agitators should wait, said a company official.