Jharsuguda: Nearly 100 villagers mostly ladies of Saletikra and Marakuta gram protested against Action Ispat & Power Limited. These Villagers were protesting against construction of new Ash pond which is very near to Saletikara Gram. Ladies of this village had literally seen lying on the ground under such hot climate near the machinery and not allowing any work to progress further. The Villagers have halted the construction of Ash Pond and have urged the company and Dist. Administration not to build this Ash Pond because of this project Saletikara gram village is being affected very badly due to the dust and pollution.
As per one Rupalal Meher, who is the resident of Salekira Village has told that “We have already informed management earlier not to construct this Ash Pond but they have ignored and today they have started the work. Due to this project many villagers have been affected with pollution and dust. Last year, because of this project the dirty water had entered in to the pond when intimated to Company Official they said nothing will happen. If the Management wants to build an Ash Pond then they have to go over the bodies of the villagers. We are handing over a memorandum to Action Ispat , Jharsuguda Collector, Pollution Control Board to look into this matter till then we won’t allow this Ash pond to get constructed.
Another resident of the Saletikra Gram, Ganesh Meher, Blamed the Company for not hearing any problems of villagers instead whenever villagers go to their premises, they ignore us and tells that they are not aware of where this village Saletikra Gram is.
However, Vikash Das, HR of Action Ispat have told that “We have taken all the legal permission from
all departments for construction of this Ash Pond. We are trying our level best to convince the local
people.”
Debti Meher, Sulochan Meher , Ujjalaw Meher , Rupalal Meher , Ganesh Meher ( Sanathan ) , Raghunandan Meher , Jaydev Majhi , Laxman Das, Arjun Barik , Saheb Dhauli , Jagdish , Gaguna along with other villagers were present in this Protest
