Hundreds of villagers from Kukuda and Alanda gram panchayats under Rajgangpur protesting against a public hearing for expansion of Lanjiberna mines of Dalmia Bharat Cement Ltd staged a road blockade on Monday. As per public hearing notice of Sundargarh Collector, about 164.82 acres of land in Alanda panchayat and about 12.96 acres of land in Kukuda panchayat were to be acquired for expansion of Lanjiberna limestone mines of Dalmia Bharat Cement Ltd. Sources said, as a part of process, a social impact assessment (SIA) report was prepared by Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS) and a copy of report was handed over to Sarpanches of Kukuda and Alanda panchayats for discussion in punlic hearing. In public hearing scheduled on August 23, suggestions from the affected villages were to be obtained.Apprehending law and order situation, about 12 platoons of police force were deployed at both gram panchayats. As per programme, a team of district administration under the leadership of Sub Collector, Sundargarh Abhimanyu Behera reached spot. Hundreds of locals staged a protest and did not allow the Government officials to proceed to the Panchayat office. The officials attempted to calm down the locals and conduct the public hearing meeting, but the locals were rigid on their stand. Finally, the officials held the public hearing at the spot, where they were stranded where in many local villagers participated. The suggestions provided by NCDS were discussed and locals gave their views. Many of the locals supported and agreed to the points whereas some locals also objected to the suggestions.