Tension On OCL Campus As Tribals Protest Expansion Of Mining Area

Rajgangpur: More than 5000 tribals barged into the premises of the Odisha Cement Ltd (OCL) here on Wednesday protesting against the public hearing on expansion of mines of the company.

According to reports, the OCL had sought permission from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) for expansion of its dolomite mines near Jhagarpur village for which the latter had fixed a public hearing on this matter at the Dalmia Training Centre on Wednesday.

However, protesting the decision of the Board, more than 5000 tribals from Jhagarpur and the nearby villages led by Biramitrapur MLA George Tirkey forcibly entered the premises of the training centre.

The tribals said instead of duscussing the matter in the Gram Sabha, the Board decided to conduct a public hearing, which was unconstitutional.

Anticipating untoward incident, the district administration has deployed 25 platoons of police to maintain law and order.

Till reports last came in, police had evicted the tribals from the campus. However, the tribals are not allowing any OCL employees and officials into the premises.