Katikela Villager’s demand for Village displacement to be referred in next RPDAC Meeting

Jharsuguda:�The demand of displacement of Katikela Village by villagers post breach of Vedanta’s Ash pond 2, �has been referred to be discussed at RPDAC Meeting at the earliest.

This was decided in a joint meeting held at Jharsuguda Collectorate on Saturday evening in presence of IG Northern Range S.K. Nath Jharsuguda Dist. Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik, Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das, Vedanta officials and Katikela Villagers.

On Saturday morning, Jharsuguda Dist. Collector along with other officials had visited the spot and had assessed the situation of damages taken place after the breach of Ash pond 2 �of Vedanta Aluminum on 28th August. After which the collector had called a joint meeting to discuss the issue.

“Jharsuguda Collector had called a meeting in presence of IG Northern Range S.K. Nath on Saturday evening. Our main demand was displacement of our village and second was to de-watering the Ash pond – 3, in which the water has also filled due to rain. In this meeting, it was decided that the company will dewater the ash pond 3 immediately for which we agreed and displacement issue was referred to the RPDAC meeting to be held at the earliest. Till then we have decided to co-operate on this issue.” said Anantram Sahu, resident of Katikela Village

“The main demand of the Katikela villagers was to get the village displaced, but the displacement issue can’t be taken at this meeting so it has been referred to be discussed in RPDAC meeting. Secondly, it is decided to de-water the Ash pond – 3 which has been filled due to rain as it endangered�the stability of the pond,” said Jharsuguda District Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik

Vedanta Company spokesperson stated that it is engaged in continuous dialogue with the community to resolve the issue amicably.