Villagers, mostly women, have strongly opposed the lease given to the NLC India by the State Government for mining coal from Talabira 2 and 3 opencast mines in Jharsuguda district.
A meeting was scheduled to be held in Patrapai-Rampur village at 11 am on Friday by the NLC India to dedicate to villagers a drinking water project, built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh. Bargarh MP Pravas Singh, Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das, company director R Bikram were to attend the meeting. However, villagers in large numbers came and went on a rampage by broking chairs and tables before beginning of the meeting. Getting prior information, the guests did not come to the meeting.
NLC project GM SC Suman, Executive Engineer Ramprit Ram and other officials, who had already come to hold the meeting, returned after breaking a coconut on the site. V
Villagers alleged that the company authorities have not given any importance in giving jobs to the displaced persons and reducing pollution in the area.
Villagers led by Parvati Agarwal, Birendra Sai, Jitendra Singhdeo, RK Singhdeo and Manoj Rohidas protested the drinking water project. Jharsuguda SDPO Kailash Acharya said no prior information was given to the police about inauguration of project.