Villagers protest development of coalmine by Adani;RPDAC meeting postp
Angul, Jan 30 : A violent protest by irate villagers affected by the development of Mahaguj Coal Mine by the Adani group forced the district authority to postpone the meeting of Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development and Advisory Committee (RPDAC) yesterday.
The pro-and anti-Adani Coal mine groups clashed at the meeting venue. Irate villagers opposing the development of the coal block by the company, even attacked some media people and advocates.
Two FIRs had been lodged by the media people and advocates in Angul police station, according to IIC of Angul police station S Muduli. The journalists have condemned the attack.
Prior to the meeting, hundreds of villagers laid siege to the collectorate,the meeting place. The trouble started when some pro group arrived on the spot with slogan shouting which evoked loud protest from the anti Adani group, leading to a clash despite the deployment of police force at the venue.
The protesters left the area after the district authority announced the postponement of the meeting. When contacted, RDC of northern division Alkekh Padhiary said the RPDAC could not take place due to want of quorum.
Last year, the irate villagers burnt down the camp at Chhendipada during the public hearing on the environment clearance for the company.