Power plant-affected launch hunger strike seeking jobs

SAMBALPUR : Families affected by Aditya Aluminium project at Sambalpur's Lapanga launched hunger strike in front of the collectorate here on Thursday, demanding jobs in the company.
The agitators alleged that the company did not follow the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy of the state government after acquiring land from them.
"We have submitted memoranda to the district administration on different occasions.But we got nothing except assurances. Fed up with the indifference, we decided to start hunger strike for an indefinite period to force the authorities meet our demands," said Laxmikant Sandha, an agitator.
According to him, the government has acquired more than 2,000 acre of fertile land in 11 villages to set up Aditya Aluminium along Sambalpur-Jharsuguda express highway.
They agitators said villages under Lapanga, Bomaloi, Jangala, Katarbaga, Ghichamura and Nishanbhaga gram panchayats were affected. "Many villagers lost their source of income after losing their lands. Several villagers are yet to receive compensation, let alone employment," said another agitator Nihar Ranjan Pradhan.
The company officials claimed said they are implementing the R&R policy. "We have already provided employment to many land losers. We will provide jobs to others taking into consideration their qualification and age," said a senior officer of the company.
Collector (Sambalpur) Balwant Singh said that district administration is ready to bring out a solution through dialogue. "I have requested the villagers to come and have a discussion," Singh added.