HC-Appointed Committee Holds Public Hearing In Dhinkia Village, Anti-JSW Protesters Kept Away 

Amid tight security and protests put up by villagers opposing the proposed JSW steel plant, the High Court appointed five-member committee conducted a public hearing at Dhinkia village in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha on Saturday. 

The meeting was held at the Dhinkia Panchayat office for the villagers to express their views before the committee without any fear. However, the protesting villagers said those protesting the proposed JSW steel plant were intentionally kept away from the hearing. 

The hearing took place amid heavy security deployment. Jagatsinghpur district Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) were present during the hearing to oversee the arrangements. The police deployed at the Panchayat office gate were seen letting people get into the hall after verifying their Aadhaar cards. 

At the outset of the hearing, tension broke out when former Sarpanch Salila Nayak and several other villagers staged a protest alleging that the administration did not allow them to take part in the hearing. Even entry of journalists was also restricted. Tension escalated when the Ersama Block Development Officer (BDO) asked media representatives to vacate the place, hastening angry villagers oppose the move. 

Commenting on the ban on journalists from covering the hearing, Ersama Tehsildar Pragyananda Das said the authorities were just following the High Court’s direction. However, the committee members made it clear that there was no such direction from the High Court to keep scribes away from the hearing. 

An elderly woman, Premalata Rout was seen sitting outside the Panchayat office. When asked the reason, Rout burst out in anger. “They didn’t allow us to participate in the hearing claiming that the hall had been filled to its capacity,” said Rout. 

Similarly, registering her dissatisfaction, former Sarpanch Salila Nayak said, “I tried twice to enter the hall but failed as the officials did not allow me to go inside. They cited unavailability of space as the reason for not letting us in. I even told them that I would stand in a corner, but still they didn’t pay any heed to my request.”

Ersama Tehsildar Pragyananda Das told reporters, “We have been directed by the High Court to make sure that the villagers gave their opinion about the proposed JSW plant without any fear and pressure. The entire proceeding of the hearing is recorded on camera. We will provide you the clippings.”