Locals form 24-km-long human chain in Odisha’s Balasore. Here’s why

Balasore: Locals today formed a 24-km-long human chain in Baliapal block of Odisha’s Balasore district opposing the proposed petrochemical project and Subarnarekha Port in the area.

Led by Upakula Bhitamati Surakhya Committee Convenor Arun Jena, the villagers formed the human chain from Kalasimuli in Jambhirai panchayat to Kankadapala in Choumukha panchayat to press their demands.

While the state government has approved the petrochemical project and Subarnarekha Port, the residents of Jambhirai, Nuagaon, Aladiha, Betagadia, Dagara and Choumukha panchayats are opposing the land acquisition for which they would lose their farmlands.

While the government claimed that the project and the port would provide jobs to the locals and create new employment opportunities, the villagers are not willing to leave their homeland.

This apart, farmers of the area, for whom agriculture is their livelihood, are protesting the acquisition of the farmland for the project.

The agitators warned of intensifying the protest in future in the case of non-fulfillment of their demands.