JSW Project: Land Acquisition Work Continues; Orissa HC Seeks Status Report On Dhinkia Clash

Jagatsinghpur: The land acquisition process for the proposed steel plant of JSW continued in the district on Thursday even as the Orissa High Court sought a status report on the situation in Dhinkia village where a clash reportedly took place between police and villagers opposing the project last Friday.

As many as 50 betel vines were measured in Dhinkia under Ersama block and 32 of those were demolished on the day. The measurement and demolition work was carried out with the consent of the people through discussion with administrative officials. Five teams, led by Ersama tehsildar Chowdhury Pranjananda Das, were present.

The process of identifying and counting of the fruit trees of the local people in Gobindpur village was also started after discussion between the villagers and the tehsildar. The people will be compensated as per the assessment of the government’s Horticulture department.

Till date, as many as 336 betel vines have been demolished in Dhinkia panchayat and about 450 measured, while 245 beneficiaries of the village have been paid compensation of more than Rs 6 crore.

Similarly, IDCO has started the construction of boundary wall from Patna village.

Earlier in the day, the High Court asked the Home department to submit a status report on the ground situation in Dhinkia. Two PILs have been filed in the HC over the alleged police lathicharge on the villagers. The PILs have sought protection of human rights, free treatment of injured villagers, adequate compensation to affected farmers and halt to alleged forceful eviction of villagers.

Also Read: Violence At Dhinkia In Odisha: HC Directs Home Dept To Submit Status Report – Odisha Bytes

Meanwhile, the Congress has stated that the fact finding committee, constituted by it to inquire into disturbances at Dhinkia, will visit the JSW project site soon.

The committee, headed by veteran Congress leader Narasingha Mishra, has 7 members including the chairman.

Also Read: Odisha Cong Forms 7-Member Committee To Probe Disturbance At JSW Project Site