Villagers give nod to Jindal project
By IANSSaturday, October 23, 2010
RAIPUR - Dozens of villagers Saturday gave the nod to Jindal Power Limited’s (JPL) coal washery project but expressed concern about pollution fallout due to the project to Kelo river, the lifeline of the people in Raigarh district.
A public hearing was held at a school complex at Tamnar area, some 250 km from here in Raigarh district, amid reports that villagers had planned a massive protest against JPL’s 800 tonne per hour (TPH) project.
“The villagers have largely supported the project but raised the issue of pollution and said that company must have a proper mechanism to handle the pollution problems related to the project because it may further pollute Kelo river where the waste from the coal washeries set up by other industries in the area is being discharged,” a senior official of district administration told IANS.
The environment activists lodged the complaint that coal washery is already in operation before the mandatory public hearing and said that they have already taken up the issue with the Forest and Environment Ministry.
“Though we were not allowed to speak, we lodged written complaint in this regard,” said Ramesh Agrawal, an activist.
