Addressing a gathering of 5,000 people, including villagers and workers of various mines and plants at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district on Monday, Sukinda MlA Pritiranjan Ghadai demanded permanent jobs for local youths in all steel companies and other firms in Kalinganagar and its nearby areas.
The MlA further said that steel industries and chromites mines in the Sukinda Valley are discharging their wastages into the Brahmani river system. The authority is concerned only to provide water to big industrial houses at Kalinganagar area, but it is paying lip services to poor tribals, rued Ghadei, adding that the authorities should take action against the steel plants that are polluting the rivers and air.
Many locals have lost their land after being assured of getting jobs by several companies. However, the companies and mines have betrayed the locals by not providing any employment, said the MlA. “While the Tata Steel plant will be commissioned within four to six months, it is being careless towards employment of the locals youths,” said Ghadei.