Jharsuguda: Residents of Bhurkhamunda village in Jharsuguda district, who blocked the main gate and two other gates of Vedanta’s plant on Friday morning, called off their strike in the afternoon following a written assurance from company officials that they will resolve their issues within 45 days.
The villagers were demanding relocation due to increase in pollution levels leading to health issues and protesting agsint jobs not being provided to local youths and negligible development under the company’s CSR programme. Despite several attempts, Vedanta officials were not available for comment.
On Dec 24, villagers had moved the district administration. The issue of relocation was also discussed at a meeting of Vedanta. A meeting was also held on Thursday between the district administration, Vedanta officials and villagers at the sub-collector’s office, but it remained inconclusive. “When Vedanta started, they took all our land. We are now living on a small portion. Even after all these years, the company has not listened to us. So, we wrote to the district administration,” said Saroj Pujari, a resident of Bhurkamunda.
“The company has been giving excuses for the past seven years. Officials do not visit our village, and no development work is being done. The entire village is covered with dust. One should visit our school and see its condition. We want Vedanta to relocate our village,” alleged Dilip Kumar Deheria, a resident of Bhurkamunda.