Losers oppose Essar's compensation package in Jagatsinghpur.

Pioneer News Service | Jagatsinghpur
People, who lost their land in the acquisition for the proposed Essar Steel project in Jagatsingpur district, have expressed dissatisfaction over the land prices fixed by the company in recent rehabilitation and periphery development advisory committee meeting held in the Collectorate here on Wednesday.Senior officials including Collector PK Meherda, project director of the company HS Sethy, four MLAs and MP of Jagatsinghpur district discussed the progress of the project work in the meeting, which was chaired by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner SN Sarangi.Participants of the meeting stressed on suitable compensation for the land losers and proper implementation of the R&R policy of the State Government.
About four years ago the State Government had signed MoU with Eassar Company for setting up the proposed steel plant in Paradip. But the project proceeds slow owing to the land acquisition process becoming a hurdle for the company.
Official reports reveal that about 1,925 acres of land are required for the project and only 103 acres of land have been provided by the Government. Rest 1,625 acres of private land would be acquired from the residents of Nuagada, Bijayachandpur and Udyabata villages.Meanwhile, the company has successfully conducted socio-economic survey of the people near the project site and found about 909 families to be affected for the project.Company officials said the land price to have been fixed in three categories in different villages. Lands in Udayabata village have been fixed to be Rs 17 lakh per acre followed by Rs 10 lakh per acre in Nuagada and Rs 12 lakh per acre in Bijyachandpur villages.
However, the villagers opposed the land price fixed by the company and say the ongoing price of the lands are much higher.The project director on the other hand said about 5500 local people would get employment and as many as 10,000 people would be benefited through employment generation works.However, Sarangi directed the company officials to revise the land prices.