Protest intensifies in Odisha’s Sundargarh as tribals oppose ‘land acquisition without Gram Sabha’

Thousands of tribals from several panchayats of Sundargarh on Wednesday staged a massive protest outside the District Collector’s office, alleging that Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited was forcibly acquiring tribal land without mandatory Gram Sabha approval.

Massive March to Collector’s Office

Demonstrators gathered at the Biju Patnaik Chowk and marched in a large rally to the Collectorate, where they held a vociferous protest. The agitators accused the company of violating legal norms and attempting to take over tribal land through coercive means.

Villagers Allege Forced Land Acquisition

Residents from Kesramal, Katang, Kukuda, Alanda and Jhagarpur panchayats in Rajgangpur block claimed that the company was moving ahead with land acquisition without holding Gram Sabhas, a mandatory requirement under the Forest Rights Act and PESA guidelines.

The tribal groups alleged that not only the company but parts of the district administration were acting in violation of the law and attempting to intimidate tribal families resisting the move.

"There has been no progress in implementing this amendment. Areas falling under the Fifth Schedule require mandatory Gram Sabha approval, yet the government is not acting in accordance with the law," said CS Raazen Ekka, MLA Rajgangpur.

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No Official Response Yet

Despite the scale of the protest, no immediate reaction was available from either the company authorities or the district administration.

"Without the Gram Sabha, land acquisition has been going on. The land rights of tribal and Dalit people are forcibly taken away. The officials must obey the rules under the PESA Act guidelines. They didn't take our consent. FIR was filed, and the police are not accepting it," said Prafulla Samantaray, Environmentalist.