A mass agitation is continuing at Marthapur village for last four days against Tata Steel’s construction of a water project worth Rs 80 crore. Over 100 agitators, including men and women, picketed and raised slogans against the project, which is meant to supply water to the Kalinga Nagar steel unit of the company.
The agitators demanded payment of bonus at Rs 1.5 lakh per acre of land acquired for the project, provision of water to the villagers through the pipeline, job to every land looser, construction of a village community centre-cum-library, street light and electricity supply to the village, plantation, construction of concrete wall on river bed to avoid erosion and improvement of medical service in the village.
They said that though they had submitted separate charters of demands to the Tata Steel vice president, the Kalinga Nagar ADM, the Jajpur SP, the Danagadi Tehsildar and the District Collector of Jajpur earlier for suitable action, but nothing was done.
Among others, who participated included Er Satyabrata Prusty, Jayaram Samal, Er Pranati Nayak, Udaya Dhal, Santosh Mohanty, Harish Samal, Monalisa Samal and Alok Mohanty. They said that the agitation would continue till the demands were fulfilled.