Megha Das 
The meeting pertaining to the proposed ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel India Ltd (AM/NS) steel project in Paradeep was chaired by Revenue Divisional Commissioner Central Range, Suresh Chandra Dalei, on Thursday. The discussion was held with the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC).
AM/NS, a prominent steel manufacturing company, has outlined its intentions to construct a large-scale integrated steel facility with a production capacity of 7 million tonnes in Paradeep. During a conference, the company presented its comprehensive plan for rehabilitating the local area and implementing necessary perimeter works. These initiatives align with the company’s Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) policy, which aims to address the adverse consequences of industrial displacement.
Based on the first survey conducted by the civil administration, it has been determined that about 1476 households residing in the villages of Bijayachandrapur, Udayabata, and Nuagada, together with their respective hamlets, will require relocation as a result of the project. Following a thorough examination of the concerns expressed by the villagers and the determination of the total count of households affected by the displacement, the district administration has granted a period of 15 days for the planned evacuees and their respective families to submit any grievances they may have. The village of Narendrapur, situated in close proximity to Paradeep, has been designated as the new place of residence for the family affected by displacement.
The project description of the proposed steel factory was presented during the conference, where Rajib Bhatnagar, the executive director of AM/NS, revealed that up to 2100 employees will be employed once the plant becomes operational. The selection process for these jobs will prioritise individuals from displaced and local families. The organisation will fully comply with the R&R policy of 2006, as stated by the executive director, and has assured a smooth implementation.
During the discussion, Nuagada Sarpanch Devendra Nath Rout emphasised the need of providing sufficient compensation and rehabilitation packages to those who have lost their land, as well as ensuring equitable distribution of the project’s benefits. This is justified by the significant sacrifices made by the local inhabitants.
Prashanta Muduli, the chief whip of Odisha, along with Sambit Routray, the MLA of Paradeep, and Raghunandan Das, the MLA of Balikuda-Erasama, expressed their concerns regarding the corporation’s insufficient efforts in protecting the local environment against industrial pollution. They emphasised the government’s policy on rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) and the provision of assistance to households affected by displacement.
During the meeting, Collector Parul Patwari made a commitment to fully enforce the R&R policy, ensuring that all impacted families’ concerns and complaints will be duly acknowledged and addressed.
Various stakeholders, including the president of the Zilla Parishad, the police superintendent, the additional district magistrates of Jagatsinghpur and Paradeep, the sub-collector, the DFO of Rajnagar, the members of the PRIs in the locality, the members of the RPDAC, and representatives from the NGO community, expressed their perspectives regarding the proposed project. Officer Kamlesh Mohanty, an expert in the field of land acquisition, subsequently proposed a motion for a vote of commendation.
