The Vistapan Virodhi Jan Manch (VVJM) is organising the Mahameli of tribals at Kalinganagar on January 2 to commemorate the death of 14 tribals who were killed at the police firing while protesting their displacement, owing to Tata Steel’s project at Kalinganagar. The success or failure of the Mahameli will write the future of the project that is on its course despite the meltdown.
Tata Steel is proposing to set up a 6 million tonne steel project at Kalinganagar Industrial Complex in Jajpur district with an investment of Rs 15,400 crore. However, the land acquisition process hit a roadblock as the locals resisted any displacement.
Ever since the firing took place on January 2, 2006, Tata Steel has been seriously pursuing well-planned programmes to assuage the feelings of the locals. The company has not only built the rehabilitation colony but also cajoled them to settle there. It has also trained over 100 youth and found skilled job for them in various companies. Such initiatives by the company have disrupted several of VVJM’s attempts to ignite fresh agitations.
VVJM has been, virtually, reduced to a minority outfit in the area given several incidents that were reported during the last one year. The Friday Mahameli would give an opportunity to the organisation to prove its strength.
Chakradhar Haiburu (senior), the president of the VVJM, however, claims that about 10,000 tribals would participate in the Mahameli. There will be a massive rally before a protest meeting at Ambagadia, where the killed tribals had been buried.
Apprehending breach of peace, the Jajpur district police chief, Dhirendranath Sambaji Kutty, has made elaborate security arrangements in Kalinganagar and Ambagadia.