JSPL agrees to majority demands of land losers

Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) has agreed to fulfill the majority of demands of the villagers affected by its six million tonne steel plant at Nisha near Angul in a bid to break the impasse over the project which culminated in a violent clash between the villagers and security personnel of the company last week resulting in injuries to about 150 persons from both sides.

The agreement came in a six hour long marathon tripartite meeting among the representatives of the company, aggrieved villagers and the district administration.

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Speaking to media after the meeting, the executive director of the company, Rajesh Jha said, the company has agreed to 13 out of 20 demands relating to the peripheral and other developmental works.

But the issues which still remain unresolved include demand for permanent jobs and higher compensation for land.

While the company has assured to provide jobs to local affected people after proper training of the aspirants, it has rejected the demand to pay higher land price at the rate of Rs 50 per acre saying compensation has already been paid to the land losers in 2008-09.

However, it was decided at the meeting to issue identity cards and job cards to the project affected persons in next six months.

The company officials agreed to bear the medical expenses of the injured villagers in the last week's clash in the project premises though they were non-committal on payment of compensation to the injured.

"The JSPL has agreed to bear all expenses for the treatment of injured but refused to give any cash compensation. As regards to job to locals, it said, it would follow the guidelines of state rehabilitation policy. On the withdrawal of police cases against the agitating villagers, the villagers were told to sit with company officials at Nisha police station to resolve the issue amicably,'' said a district official.

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On Friday's reconciliation meeting was held under the chairmanship of collector Sib Mishra. Besides Jha and senior company officials, the meeting was attended by superintendent of police, Satybarat Bhoi, and representatives of all the 18 affected villages under the banner of Birankeswar Silpanchal Khyati grasta Praja Sangh.

Meanwhile, the sangh is yet to decide whether to call off its ten day long agitation or not.