Videshi NGO Hatao, lanjigarh Banchao’ and ‘Vedanta Refinery Chalukara, Jibika Pradan Kara’ were the slogans of thousands of agitated locals of the lanjigarh, Ambodala, Dahikhal area of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts who gathered at the main gate of Vedanta Aluminium limited (VAl) at lanjigarh on Monday and met VAl President & COO Mukesh Kumar and handed over a memorandum demanding restart of the plant which is shut since December 5, 2013.
The company COO in reply agreed that the closure of the plant has hit the economy of the area and assured to restart the refinery soon. “I know that lots of people have lost their livelihoods. However, we are trying all possible steps to restart the plant at partial capacity by sourcing bauxite from the neighbouring States and Gujarat.”
On April 24, 2013, the locals had met the COO in thousands in number, but finding no solution they again took such step.
As per the locals, many people have lost their jobs after the plant’s closure, and if the plant does not run it will affect the region in the long run. The locals also criticise the international and other NGOs playing their role to stop the plant. “The foreign GNOs are responsible for this closure of the plant. We will not tolerate their activities here,” said president of lanjigarh Anchalik Vikash Parishad Sridhara Pesnia.