Dispute over land acquisition in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Sep 5 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh government and Essar are part of a dispute over acquisition of about 1,500 acres for setting up a Rs 6,000-crore steel plant in remote, tribal-dominated and mineral-rich Dantewada district.

Villagers and the 'Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Mahasabha' accused the police and administration of threatening landowners and incarcerating those who raised voices of protest. They also accused the government of working on a strategy to exert all possible pressure for providing land to the company.

The administration is yet to secure a nod from 'gramsabhas' as it is a notified area. Tribals have refused the compensation under a rehabilitation policy. On the lines of the much-debated Dadri Project, people are demanding that if Essar needs land it should directly parley with farmers and fix prices.

The company has earmarked land in Bhansi and Durli villages as it adjoins the Kirandul-Visakhapatnam rail line and is relatively less affected by naxalism.

''Prohibitory orders are being clamped on the villages. Eight peasants were taken into custody even before a 'gramsabha' meeting got underway on August 30. Four were released following a protest but the rest were jailed,'' Mahasabha President and former CPI(M) MLA Manish Kunjam, who is annoyed over the administration's stance, told UNI.

He alleged that Minister Kedar Kashyap and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Mahendra Karma were also present and attempted to exert pressure but in vain.

''Are the government and the opposition leader in favour of the cultivators or an industrial group,'' Mr Kunjam wondered.

Essar already has a presence in the area as it transports iron residue by pipeline from Kirandul to Visakhapatnam.

''A separate rehab policy must be announced for this area,'' Mr Kunjam felt.

''Allegations of the police being used by the administration are wrong. The administration is attempting to take the ryots into confidence,'' the District Collector told UNI while the Essar spokesperson denied comment.

UNI AS-AC 0954