Seeks State Govt’s intervention
Dakhin Odisha Unnayan Parishad (DOUP) convenor Rabi Rath and Rushikulya Rayat Mahasabha secretary Simanchal Nahak on Thursday supported the agitation by villagers of Aryapalli gram panchayat against the Orissa Sands Complex (OSCOM), which entered ninth day on Wednesday.
Rath and Nahak held discussions with the agitators and sought intervention of the State Government for fulfilling the long-pending demands of the villagers.
The demands include implementing of the package for the villagers, withdrawal of cases against the 12 persons, checking pollution from the monozite plant and providing employment to youths.
The villagers said that after its inception, locals had demanded employment in the OSCOM. In 2011, the company acquired land promising employment to the local youths and compensation but has not fulfilled the promise.
Later on September 18, the villagers obstructed OSCOM’s dredging operation in the northern side of Aryapalli, protesting the callous attitude of the company’s authorities in meeting their demands. Taking benefit of it, the OSCOM authorities lodged a complaint against the agitators, following which a case was registered against 12 villagers.
Even if the villagers had apprised the RDC (southern division) about the issue in January 2018 and he had directed the OSCOM officials to meet the demands by June-end but yet no action has been taken. Rath also alleged that instead of resolving the issue, the Ganjam administration is trying to suppress the voice of villagers.