Jharsuguda :�The villagers of Hirma, Kumhari, Tareikela, Tumbekela and Luherankachha�under Hirma Panchayat on Wednesday have extended their support with several conditions like providing proper rehabilitation, resettlement and job assurance for the proposed thermal plant of Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC) at Hirma Panchayat.
In this regard, a public hearing on Environment Impact Assessment was held on Wednesday by Jharsuguda District Administration and Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC) officials in Gariadihi Village under Jharsuguda Block.
Where around 24 villagers had participated out of which 11 villagers spoke against the proposed NLC thermal power plant and 13 villagers have extended their support but with several conditions.
Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC), a ‘Navratna’ government of India company is going to set up 3200 MW thermal Plant in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur border area, which would spread in a total 1221.61 Acres of Land including Jharsuguda and Sambalpur District, respectively.
In Jharsuguda around 880.35 Acres of land. and in Sambalpur, around 341.26 acres of land will be acquired for this project. During the first phase, the company is planned to set up around 2400 MW (800MWx3) and later in the Second Phase 800MW (800MWx1) will be set up. The coal required for this thermal plant will be taken from Talabira II & Talabira III Open Cast mines through Pipe Conveyor, whereas the water, will be drawn from Hirakud Reservoir.
“As per several reports, Jharsuguda has become the most polluted district due to the presence of many industries and even the rivers are polluted and after the setup of this plant it will even make this environment more polluted and unsuitable for living, So the Government should cancel it and reconsider it.” said Surendra Sahoo, a resident of Hirma village
Madhusudhan Kishan, a resident of Tareikela village said “We support the proposed Plant but we want that the plant should acquire all the lands present near the proposed site and should provide proper rehabilitation and re-settlement with job assurance to unemployed local youths.”
Jharsuguda Additional District Magistrate Pradeep Kumar Sahoo said that “Several villagers had participated in today’s public hearing on Environment Impact Assessment, we have recorded the views of the villagers and will submit it to the concerned authority.”
Suresh Chandra Suman, Project Head, NLC� said,” This is a public hearing for Environment Impact Assessment has been organised was a great success held under the Regional officer, State Pollution Board and Jharsuguda District Administration.� Whatever matter has come up in the Public hearing, we will submit this to the Government of India and after the expert committee’s hearing, we will act according to it. We have written an application to the Jharsuguda District Collector for the rehabilitation site.” �
As reported, On October 22, the villagers had staged a protest and boycotted a public hearing on Social Impact Assessment held by Jharsuguda District Administration and Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC) officials in Gariadihi Village under Jharsuguda.
