Purulia: Sustained agitation by land losers has jeopardised the fate of an under-construction DVC thermal power project in the Raghunathpur area of Purulia in West Bengal. Agitators have blocked the main gate and have kept six personnel from maintenance and operation departments locked inside since Saturday evening.
The protesters have demanded assurances of employment for all land losing families at the plant, over and above their compensation for land. Generation for the 600 X 2 MW first phase of plant was scheduled to start in 2012 and DVC has already invested Rs 5,500 crore in the project. The delay was on account of land acquisition problems
Foundation stone for the project's 2nd phase with 660 X 2 MW has also been laid in December 2012. Land losers have allegedly stalled work for the water corridor project which is vital to power generation at the plant.
The trouble at the Raghunathpur plant may threaten the overall power situation in West Bengal and Jharkhand since the switch yard of the plant is connected to the national grid. DVC authorities allege that the agitation is resulting in a daily loss of over Rs 3.5 crore.
The protestors allege that the DVC authorities have gone back on their initial promise to provide jobs to one member of every land losing family.
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