*Tribals fear displacement by ArcelorMittal* Company is likely to complete its detailed project report for its proposed plant by December
Over 1000 people took out a march demanding protection of land from multi-national companies 'Those displaced for setting up public sector units during last 40 years are yet to be compensated' Ranchi: After South Korean steel major POSCO's proposed greenfield project in Orissa, the one by the world's biggest steelmaker ArcellorMittal in Jharkhand has met with resistance from residents at the proposed site of the plant who fear displacement. Residents of Rania, Karra, Torpa and Kamdara blocks in Jharkhand's Khunti and Gumla districts on Thursday pledged resistance against acquisition of tribal land by L.N. Mittal-promoted steel conglomerate. Over 1000 people under the banner of 'Adivasi-Moolvasi Rakhsa Manch' took out a march from Sanik Theatre to Raj Bhavan here demanding protection of tribal land from multi-national companies. 'Not an inch of land' "We will not give an inch of land to ArcelorMittal which is set to acquire our land as it would displace about one lakh people in the four blocks," Manch convenor Dayamani Barla told newsmen. The demonstrators submitted a memorandum to the staff at the Raj Bhavan gate as Governor Syed Sibtey Razi was out of the State, Barla said. ArcelorMittal is scheduled to complete its detailed project report for its proposed 12 mt steel plant by December this year and has already finished its survey at Kamdra (Gumla district) and Torpa (Khunti district) for its proposed plant. Citing the example of displacement of people during the setting up of Heavy Engineering Corporation, Bokaro Steel Plant and other public sectors over 40 years, the memorandum said they were allegedly still to get the compensation. It also warned against flouting the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act which protects tribal land. Bonded labourers The tribals demanded that no project that displaced people should be allowed as land acquisition would force the agriculture land-owners to migrate and work as bonded labourers elsewhere. "Migration is inevitable as the Jharkhand government has not yet come out with any rehabilitation and resettlement policy. The tribals have been exploited whenever a project had been set up," claimed Barla. ArcelorMittal had recently organised a workshop here that delved into the dynamics of social transformation that accompanies industrialisation. -- PTI http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/30/stories/2008053051670300.htm --
