PUDR call to review alumina project

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 12. The People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) has demanded a comprehensive review of the controversial alumina project in Kashipur block of Orissa's Rayagada district.

A four-member fact-finding team of PUDR, which investigated the issues arising out of the alumina project from June 6 to 11, has said that the project be reviewed without couching the same under the term ``public purpose''.

Releasing a five-page interim report at a press conference here this afternoon, Mr. Harish Dhawan and Ms. Deepika Tandon, both secretaries of PUDR, said that the land acquisition process should be quashed since it suffered from a number of shortcomings and illegalities. If required, land acquisition be carried out taking into consideration the spirit of present day legislation requiring people's consent, they said.

The project, which was being opposed by the locals since long, had run into rough weather after three persons were killed in police firing at Maikanch village on December 16 last year.

The PUDR report also demanded scrapping of the rehabilitation package that had been offered by the Uktal Alumina International Limited (UAIL). If required, a fresh package be designed to ensure a higher quality of life for the tribals who would be displaced

The report demanded that the administration and the government should start dialogue with the people's organisations because of the complete lack of transparency in the entire process from the beginning. The denial of information regarding the project, coupled with the denial of opportunity to voice their opinion, had resulted in the people's opposition to the venture, the report said.

The team further demanded withdrawal of the ``false cases'' against the activists of the people's organisations of the area.

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