Grama Sabhas were held for acquisition of land for five mines owned by the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) at different places under Joda block in Keojhar district.
The Gram Sabhas were held for 50.866 hectares of land in Khandabandh Iron mines area, 68.091hectares in the Bansapani ron mines (Baitarani Reserve Forest) area, 32.828 hectares under Jalhari GP(3), 874.344 hectares in Dubuna Sekradihi manganese mines area under Kalimati GP(5), 6.578 hectares under the Tiringpahad iron mines under Bhuyan Roida- Jalhari GP.
The Gram Sabhas started from December 17 and ended on December 21 covered 13 sittings presided over by respective Sarpanches. They are Basudev Naik of Palsa GP, Ranjit Naik of Balda, Kabita of Kalimati and Mita Munda of Jalahari.
Villagers demanded that the OMC gives more employments to locals and takes development activities in education, health, road and environment sectors in the mining areas.
The Gram Sabhas were coordinated by Joda BDO Arun Kumar Malik, Barbil Asst Tehsildar Manorana Deo, Jhumpura Tehsildar Janak Kumar Naik, Assistant Collector Sapan Kumar Sahu as per the decision taken by Champua Sub-Collector Gaurahari Behera.