Thousands of land losers under the banner of four different organizations have intensified their stir against the proposed oil refinery project of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), reiterating the fulfillment of their longstanding demands.
They have threatened to start an indefinite stir and paralyze the project if their demands are not fulfilled within two days.
Local MP Bibhuprasad Tarai, who is leading the movement, stated that IOC has not yet implemented the rehabilitation policy for the land losers. “The main demands of the agitating land losers are to declare the rehabilitation package, to provide job to land losers, engage local contractors in construction work and to take stern action against the anti socials who are creating law and order problems at the plant site”, he said.
IOC has acquired 3,300 hectares of private land for its oil refinery project and Rs 49 crore has been paid as compensation by the company to the affected families in 17 villages under Kujang tehsil.
About 2200 families have been affected by the project and 143 families among them have been declared as displaced families as they have lost all their land.
Locals pointed out that in 1998-99, IOC had declared to provide rehabilitation facilities to displaced families.
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“IOC had acquired 12.1 acres of land for providing two room houses at Dhinkia village but till now not a single family got any house from the company. Moreover, IOC has not taken any step to start afforestation programme even though it has acquired 3300 hectares of land”, the locals alleged.
Thousands of land losers, farmers, environmentalists, political leaders and others have united to step up the protest against IOC's oil refinery project.
The organizations participating in the stir include Bhumihara Ekata Manch, Paradeep Refinery Shramik Sangh, Baidehi Refinery Sangh and Hind Mazdoor Sangh.