The alleged highhandedness and undue favour of various Government departments, including Industries and Water Resources, to Shyam Metallics has come to light again in Sambalpur.
When the Government departments have failed to take any action against the illegal work of the firm inside the Hirakud dam reservoir, it is the villagers of Panduloi who have stopped the work and brought to light its illegal works.
As per information, the villagers of Panduloi saw Shyam Metallics laying pipe line inside the Hirakud dam reservoir to which they protested as this company has already got a water supply line from the reservoir. They immediately informed the Water Resources Department in Burla and Sambalpur but to no effect.
“And as part of the precautionary activities against such illegal work that is sure the affect irrigation and rest other activities, we stopped the work of pipe line laying inside the reservoir,” said Jagannath Meher and Subash Panda from Panduloi. “We know that Shyam Metallics in connivance with officials of the Water Resources Department is doing the job,” they alleged further, adding that this a regular practice of all the industries.
When contacted, Water Resources Department SDO BK Mishra said that he was not aware of the matter. “But if any illegal activities come to his notice, then stringent action will be taken against the company,” Mishra assured.
At the same time a senior official of the Shyam Metallics KC Dash said, “ The repairing of the first pipe line is only going on as there are some defects detected in it.”
But villagers are not prepared to buy the story as they are sure that a second pipe line work is going on.