Locals Up In Arms After Odisha Govt Allegedly Sells Land To Pvt Company For Peanuts

Rourkela: Tension prevailed at Kuanrmunda in Sundergarh district on Sunday after some local villagers stormed into a nearby field where a privately owned Ferro-alloys company was reportedly setting up its plant.

As per the reports, Sri Mahavir Ferro Alloys, a privately owned company was provided land by the government at Kuanrmunda near Rourkela to set up its unit.

However, the locals barged into the field and stopped the construction work alleging that the concerned land was acquired by the government from the locals to set up a medical college but eventually sold to the private company for peanuts.

The staff of the company and the construction workers fled the site after the locals came in and reportedly threatened them with sticks. The locals seized their vehicles and construction equipments too, which they planned to hand over to the police.

Villagers alleged that, they are yet to receive compensation from the government as per their promise at the time of acquiring their land. They further said that a foundation stone was laid to set up a medical college at the spot back in 2004 but later was sold to Sri Mahavir Ferro Alloys at less than half the price.

"The then Collector and Tehsildar took heavy bribe from the company officials and sold them our land at a minimal price," alleged a member of Kuanrmunda Nagarika Committee.

Similarly, a resident of the village said, "We are totally dependent on these lands to earn our livelihood. We handed it to the government so that it could be used for some community service but now when we see that a private company is setting up its plant, we have decided that we will not let them destroy our land."

Kuanrmunda police reached the spot following the agitation by villagers and pacified the situation.