Concerns notwithstanding, villagers want Jindals to go ahead with power project.

West Bengal Pollution Control Board's public hearing regarding the setting up of 600MW power plant in Salboni got a major push with villagers invoking their support for the plant, seeking 'immediate' set up. Held at the Salboni community hall, the public hearing found people’s support even as the support came along with a list of grievances.

'The villagers have agreed to the project while they discussed certain issues. The report on the hearing will be sent to Delhi for necessary clearance. Once the environmental clearances have been received, work on the project will begin. This is definitely a step forward, towards the implementation of the project,' said Alok Bhattacharjee, associate vice-president, projects, JSW.

JSW Group (the private, Mumbai-based conglomerate which has undertaken the project – Rs. 5,000 crore power plant and Rs. 10,000 crore steel plant) faced protests from villagers who have sold their land to the group, raising demands that the owners get jobs when the plant comes up.

Bhattacharjee said JSW is 'commented to the villagers and to the government'. 'The medical camps, health centres, training institutes set by the JSW in the area right from the inception are all operational,' he pointed out.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS