Tribals want scrapping of conveyer belt project

ROURKELA: Tribals on Thursday staged a demonstration at Rajgangpur near here demanding cancellation of a conveyer belt project of a cement plant saying it would increase pollution in the area.

The protesters took out a march along a four-km long route and submitted a memorandum addressed to Orissa governor at Rajgangpur tehsildar's office seeking scrapping of the Rs 51,000 crore peoject.

Rajgangpur MLA Gregory Minz and other local leaders addressed the gathering before leading the procession.

The tribals have been opposing the project stating that the entire area would be polluted and the paddy field of poor tribal farmers would be affected.

The Orissa Cement Limited (OCL) started its project a year back to install 12-km long conveyer belt system replacing the existing loco train system to transport lime stone from its Langiberna mines.

Elaborate security arrangements were made to prevent any untoward incident.