Public hearing put off at Chhendipada amid protests

Odisha Channel Bureau Angul, Sep 4: The public hearing for environmental clearance for coal mining at Machakut village in Chhendipada Block of Angul district of Odisha was put off on Thursday amid protests from hundreds of villagers from the nearby areas.The administration was forced to cancel the public hearing for the coal block of Adani group’s Mahaguj Colliery Limited around noon as the agitated villagers continued their protest at the venue of the meeting since early in the morning.According to reports many protestors were injured as the local police deployed at the spot resorted to lathi-charge to chase away the villagers who had been opposing the proposed coal mining in the locality.Hired anti-socials were allegedly engaged by the company were also seen beating up the innocent villagers who were opposing coal mining to save their sources of livelihood.People of five gram panchayats including Bagadia and Machakut have been protesting not to allow mining of coal in their agriculture land since the notification for land acquisition was issued by the administration.It was not immediately known when the administration will organise public hearing on the issue.Well-known social activist and president of Lok Shakti Abhiyan Prafulla Samantara had urged the Odisha State Pollution Control Board to cancel public hearing by writing a letter to the Board on Tuesday.