Villagers stage protest against proposed Astarang port in Puri, oppose public hearing meeting

Local residents on Friday staged a massive protest against the public hearing meeting held for the proposed port at Astarang in Puri district.

As per reports, the district administration organised a public hearing meeting in the locality. Opposing the meeting, the members of Pir Jahania Bhitamati Surakshya Mancha assembled in large numbers at Jahania and held a parallel public hearing meeting to raise voices against the construction of the proposed port at Astarang.

Even though 16 years have passed since the Odisha government signed an MOU with Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd for the construction of a multipurpose port on the mouth of Devi River at Astarang in 2008, not even an inch of land has been acquired as yet. 

For the environmental clearance required before the construction of a port, the State Pollution Board organised a public hearing meeting at Astarang block ground today. The program was held in the presence of the local authorities of the State Pollution Board.

However, in protest against the move, the members of Pir Jahania Bhitamati Surakshya Mancha held a parallel public hearing meeting at Jahania. A large number of people from nearby 13 revenue villages from Chhariana, Sisua and Patalda gram panchayats attended the meeting. These villagers are likely to be replaced if the port at Astarang is constructed.

The villagers staged a strong protest against the public hearing meeting held for the construction of the port.

According to the protesting villagers, the biodiversity of the area will be destroyed and thousands of people will lose their occupations if the proposed port is constructed at Astarang. 

“The public hearing meeting should have been conducted at the place where people will be affected. 

However, it was conducted in another place which is not acceptable,” said Prafulla Biswal, President of Pir Jahania Bhitamati Surakshya Mancha.

“People will lose their occupations if the port is constructed. Proper packages should be provided to them,” said a protesting villager.

When asked, Puri Assistant Collector Kailash Chandra Nayak said, “Two more public hearing meetings will be held at different places in October and people's grievances will be heard.”