Sahara power plant official attacked in Balangir SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2011 23:19 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 6 User Rating: / 0

Sahara power plant official attacked in Balangir
SUNDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2011 23:19 SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR HITS: 6
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The proposed 1,320 megawatt thermal power plant by Sahara Group at Luthurbandh, Titilagarh, is once again in the news, as one of its official’s was allegedly attacked on Sunday morning, by people opposing the setting up of a power plant there.

Reports said that the advisor for land acquisition in the proposed 1,320 MW thermal power plant, Niranjan Panda, was allegedly attacked in Luthurbandh village, 10 km from Titiligarh town, by people opposing the setting up of the thermal power plant.

Panda was invited by a local, Narendra Bisi, to hold discussions regarding the sale of land to the company and also held discussions with a woman of Mahada village, for the transfer of land.

While he was returning to Titilgarh, he was attacked by people opposing the Sahara power plant there at Luthurebandh.

His vehicle was damaged and Panda sustained injuries, informed ASP Srikant Mishra over phone to this correspondent. When the administration issued an advisory to the Sahara officials not to visit the village for land acquisition purpose, why he did he come to the village, complained the agitators.

IDCO is acquiring the land and Sahara company officials have no role to play here. Irate villagers assaulted the officials, informed Sahara Prakalpa Birodhi Manch leader, Balkrishna Sandh, over telephone to this correspondent.

But Titlagarh Sub-Collector, Biswanath Sahu, said: “In order to prevent any untoward and unpleasant situation, we have verbally suggested power plants officials to avoid visit to that area in odd hours. However, there is no restriction on movement of anybody. So far, IDCO has acquired 237acre of private and 86 acres of Government land for the proposed of setting up this power plant,” said Sahu.