A public hearing for availing environment clearance for the proposed JSW Utkal steel plant was held peacefully at Gadakujang under Kujang block in Jagatsinghpur district on Friday from 9 am to 6 pm.
While more than 5,000 people from nearby villages joined the hearing, 70 representatives presented their opinion regarding their demands like employment, rehabilitation and environment pollution.
District collector Sangram Kshari Mohapatra presided over the meeting wherein SPCB Regional Officer Ramesh Chandra Ekka was present. As many as 25 platoons of police forces were deployed to avert possible law and order situation. Notably, 2,700 acers of land, which had been acquired for Posco project earlier, would be handed over to the JSW company for establishment a steel plant, a port at Jatadhar river mouth, a cement plant and a thermal power plant at a total investment of Rs 71,000 crore.
The then Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti secretary Sisir Kumar Mohapatra welcomed the project, placing demands for employment, rehabilitation and environment pollution protection. He too praised the Collector and former Collector Satyabrata Mallick, who is now working as the CEO of the JSW Utkal Steel Ltd, saying they have worked a lot to make the Jagatsinghpur an industrial hub.
The Collector said that he would resign from his post if he fails to fulfil the demands of the local people.