The conflict between the Paradip Port Affected Land Losers’ Association (PPALLA) and the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperation Limited (IFFCO) over engagement of dumpers has now reached the District’s Magistrate’s court.
According to information, members of the PPALLA had donated lands for the Paradip Port and Port-based industries like IFFCO, PPL, Essar Steel Plant, Paradip refinery project at Rs 350 per acre years ago. With this money, many farmers purchased dumpers and engaged them in the IFFCO and the Essar plants for transportation.
Despite orders issued from the RDC and the High Court, the IFFCO has not yet given employment to members of 661 families.
While land losers were earning living by engaging dumpers, the IFFCO also snatched away that source of income by a employing a private company named ‘Paradip Paribahan Pvt Limited’ in its transportation work. Even it has given Rs 5 crore to the PPPL in advance to purchase new dumpers and tippers.
The PPALLA has alleged that the IFFCO has taken such a move in favour of mafia and black-listed industrialists. The company has taken away jobs of landless poor by using some political and criminal powers.
On Monday, PPALLA secretary Ratnakar Jena filed an FIR at the Paradip Model Police Station against the IFFCO and the PPPL, seeking justice for affected families. Following this, the IIC called both the parties and heard them. Then the IIC said the case would be solved by the ADM, Paradip and the District Magistrate, Jagatsingpur.