Palpable tension prevailed during a public hearing over environmental clearance to a proposed riverine jetty project in Jagatsinghpur district on Friday.
According to sources, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel has planned to develop the project on Mahanadi river near Nuagada panchayat to seamlessly transport goods through river ways.
However, attendees of the meeting raised slogans leading to uproarious scenes at the spot. Targeting the administration, hundreds of residents from five villages who had gathered at the protest site questioned the motive behind organising the hearing in Paradip Municipality, 10 kms away from Nuagada, the site of the project.
Protesters rued that people who are likely to be hit by the construction of the jetty project are being neglected by the company.
Local residents of the area also alleged that the proposed project would not only unleash pollutants into Mahanadi waters but also silt up the river harbour.
On the other hand, the administration has deployed tight security at the place anticipating law and order situation. People of the region have been asked to ensure peace and not take law into their hands.