Cpi May Ignore Tata Plea For Truce

Bardhan, who recently visited the project site, told Business Standard that the movement launched by the Gopalpur Sangarsh Samiti would continue and that they would move the Orissa High Court for the project site to be changed. The CPI plans to challenge the procedure followed by the Tatas to get environment clearance.

Muthuraman tried to explain to Bardhan that only 10,061 people would be displaced because of the project. The movement against it claims 30,000 persons in 11 villages would be affected. The CPI says that 25 densely- populated villages will be affected.

As for compensation, the company says the displaced people would be given 42 per cent extra money on the price of the land which would be acquired. In addition to that, Rs 30,000 would be given ex-gratia to each displaced family, he adds.

 

He said a rehabilitation committee, consisting of villagers and others, had been formed to look into the whole question and proper arrangements would be made for each displaced family. About the alternate sites, he said that five such sites had been examined and none of them seemed feasible.

Bardhan, however, said the Tatas had been giving all the wrong figures to hide the real issue. Saying that the movement would continue in the area, he demanded an end to the police terror in the area. Bardhan said the social cost involved in using the planned site was much more than the economic cost the Tatas would have to incur for shifting the site.