Sundargarh: The proposed expansion of JSW Group’s Shiva Cement plant in the district faced strong opposition by the villagers at a public hearing on Thursday.
Presenting their opinion on the expansion proposal, the villagers of Telighana and Kandei Munda villages under Kutra block said they would not hand over their land to the company which has been neglecting them in all aspects.
They alleged that while the company management was ignoring the local people in providing employment, it had taken no step towards providing basic facilities like health services and water and power supply to them.
Though agitated villagers and police came face to face at the meeting place for some time, the situation was brought under control due to intervention of the district administration officials present there.
Countering the villagers’ allegations, company representative AK Mohanty said the management of the cement plant was committed to development of the area and its people besides protection of environment.
Additional collector Biswajit Mohapatra presided the meeting where deputy collector Abhimanyu Behera and local tehsildar were present.
