MINING AND INDUSTRIALISATION UPDATE, ORISSA - Vasundhara

implementation stage would start productionin next four years.Row over bauxite miningThe Hindu, 22 July, 2008At least six persons including three womenwere injured when a group of peopleattacked those opposing the bauxite miningin Semiliguda block.Displaced families’ wrath onEssarStatesman News ServiceJAGATSINGHPUR, July 23: The displacedfamilies of seven villages in Kujang haveexpressed strong resentment againstESSAR steel company and governmentofficials for not providing them with duecompensation for the inundation of theiragriculturalland.The company has identified nearly 1925acre land for a proposed steel plant here ofwhich 1663 acre are owned by the villagersand 262 acre by the government.ESSAR has already completed dredging andsand filling in 103 acre of acquired land atthe Mahanadi river mouth, sources say. “Thedredging has resulted in the inundation ofmore than 400 acre of paddy land but eventhough the district administration has issueda notification to the company nocompensation has been paid to the farmersyet,” alleged a villager. Meanwhile,secretary of Paradeep Krushak Manch, MrBhagban Swain has submitted amemorandum to the administration officialsand the officials of the ESSAR steelcompany demanding compensation for thedisplaced farmers. In response, agriculturalscientists and soil conservation experts weresent by the government here recently toconduct an inquiry into the extent of salineinundation and sand cast in the region. “Thesaline water has left the paddy fields unfitfor cultivation and many fields have beenfilled with sand due to the sand cast. Thegovernment should look into the plight ofthe farmers and order the company to paycompensation as soon as possible,” rued afarmer.Meet on anti-bauxite miningin Maliparvat regionThe Hindu, 23 July, 2008KORAPUT: A meeting of the MaliparvatSurakhya Samiti was organised in the officeof the Koraput Indigence Liberation Front(KILF) at Semiliguda today to discuss thefuture course of action of the anti- bauxitemining movement in the Maliparvat regionof Semiliguda block in Koraput district.While the meeting was attended by 7sarpanches and scores of sympathisers andsupporters of the movement, it was decidedto organise a greater rally and demonstrationin the region on August 9, the Quit IndiaMovement day this year while askingHindalco to quit from mining in the region,he added.Fertiliser plants accused ofcausing health hazardsStatesman News ServiceJAGATSINGHPUR, July 23: Locals allegethat sulphur pollution near Atharbanki areaof Paradip has resulted in a burningsensation in the eyes and other skinailments. They point an accusing finger atthe two fertiliser plants in the area and insistthat leakage of gas due to lack ofmaintenance causes such high pollutionlevels. The charge of leakage wasvehemently denied by the fertiliser plantauthorities. Executive director of the IndianFarmers Fertilisers Co operative Ltd (Iffco),responding to the allegations said: “Steps arebeing taken to check and control pollution, ifany. ”He insisted that there was no leakagenear the conveyor belt, it could be at someother point and steps are being taken.16