Sundargarh Congress MlA Jogesh Singh along with hundreds of displaced persons of Mahanadi Coalfields limited(MCl) of Sundargarh gheraoed the MCl office on Monday alleging negligence for the displaced.
The protesters threatened if their demand was not fulfilled within 45 days, they would close the MCl mines in Sundargarh.
According to sources, there are two mines of MCl such as Basundhara and Kulda in Sundargarh district. To open these two mines, villagers of eight villages had been displaced by the MCl.
Again, two more mines, Garjanbahal project and Tikarmal project, will also come up in Sundargarh for which six more villages in the area will be displaced. land acquisition process for the two mines is going on in these six villages.
Sundargarh Congress MlA Jogesh Singh along with hundreds of displaced persons alleged that the MCl authorities have been neglecting displaced persons of the eight villages as they have been deprived of drinking water facilities, proper road, education and health facilities. They alleged further that many displaced persons have also not yet got job in the MCl.
According to sources, the villagers of Tikilipara, Khamaribahal, Sardega, Siarmahal, Kulapada, Balinga, Barpali and Bankibahal who had been displaced for setting up mines in Sundargarh by MCl have been simply resettled but they have not been provided basic amenities. The protesters while shouting against MCl also maintained that the authorities have been giving false promises to the displaced every time. MCl Deputy General Manager Mehmood Mian came for a discussion with the protesters. The DGM after talking with the high-ups assured the protesters that the displaced will be provided all facilities.