JHARSUGUDA: People of Tilia village under Lakhanpur block drove away officials of Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) on Wednesday afternoon. This was for the second time the villagers showed resistance to the expansion plans of OPGC at Banharpali.On February 16 last year, a team comprising Head of CSR and R&R Dilip Sebak and Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) Jyto Ranjan Pradhan visited the village to assess green cover to calculate compensation.The villagers had then argued that after issue of notification 4 (1), the process should follow socio-economic survey with advance intimation to them. However, officials came for the survey after issue of 6 (1) notification which was not only illegal but also raised doubts over compensation and rehabilitation, they alleged.The villagers, who were earlier displaced by Hirakud Dam and have resettled, are in no mood to relent and seeking a categorical assurance on compensation and rehabilitation package.Convenor of OPGC Bistapan Surakhya Manch Yangya Narayan Pradhan has demanded a compensation of Rs 30 lakh per acre of land acquired besides permanent employment in OPGC based on educational qualification.Chief of Infrastructure, OPGC, P K Patra said the villagers protested socio-economic survey without intimation.They have demanded a direct dialogue on the issue, he said, adding that steps would be taken to restore their confidence before moving ahead with the land acquisition process.
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