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ShareRaipur: Terming the previous public hearing on environment clearance of Tata Steel's proposed plant project in Bastar district as "undemocratic", the Communist Party of India (CPI) has now decided to hold a "people's" hearing in this regard on November 7.
The CPI has been opposing Tata Steels proposed integrated 5.5 million-tonne per annum steel plant in Lohandiguda block of the Naxal-hit district in Chhattisgarh.
"The last public hearing conducted on October 12 by the district authorities at Bastar headquarters in Jagdalpur, was held in a totally illegal and undemocratic manner, without taking environmental and social impacts into consideration," CPI national executive member Chitranjan Bakshi told PTI.
Bakshi alleged that the hearing was held 30km away from Lohandiguda area, which is going to face environmental hazards due to the planned steel plant project.
"Moreover, the talks were carried out by barricading the place, barring "people" -- tribals as well as landholders of the region," he said.
He accused the district authorities of conducting the public hearing without carrying Social and Environment Impact Assessment in accordance with the 2007 Rehabilitation Policy.
The CPI leader said that the party has also complained about the matter to Forests and environment minister Jairam Ramesh and the next hearing will be held on November 7 in the presence of stakeholders, scientists and environmentalists. The November 7 hearing organised by CPI in collaboration with Bhartiya Adivasi Mahasabha,will discuss various issues like -- adequate compensation against land acquisition, job oppurtunities to displaced tribals, alternative lands to those losing their lands to the project, while assessing the impacts of the plant in the tribal stronghold region, Bakshi added.
