Tension flares up in Jharsuguda over Vedanta’s coal mine

Tension flared up at Katujor in Jharsuguda’s Lakhanpur block on Tuesday after two groups faced off during a public hearing over NGT clearance for a coal mine of Vedanta Limited.

As per reports, during the public hearing conducted by the Jharsuguda district administration and the District pollution control board, a group of locals who reportedly would be displaced if the proposed Vedanta mine gets a go ahead were allegedly denied entry into the meeting venue.

They alleged that some goons and supporters of Vedanta did not allow them to take part in the hearing.

The heated face-off forced the administration to deploy 25 platoons of police force to avoid any untoward situation in the area.

“When we arrived at the public hearing, they did not let us in saying the room is full. Actually, all the people present in the hearing were outsiders and they do not have anything to do with the coal mine,” alleged Saroj Kumar Das, a local of Pipilimal.

“We want public hearing should be held with all the beneficiaries of three Panchayats who will lose their land if mining is allowed in the area,” Das demanded.

The locals threatened to not allow Vedanta to mine if their demands are not met.

No comments either from the district administration or the Vedanta authorities could be obtained in this connection.