Locals skip public hearing

ANGUL: Locals of Kosala area vehemently opposed the opening of an open cast coal mine and a coal washery during a public hearing on Wednesday.  People of the two most affected villages, Barpada and Kusukila boycotted the meeting held at Kosala college for environmental clearance for the two projects with an annual capacity of six million tonne each.The locals accused the mining authorities and State officials of ignoring the hazards that the projects bring along with them in the form of pollution. About 12 persons out of the registered 25 expressed their opinion about the project. We got mixed response from the people, said State Pollution Control Board Regional Officer S K Sahu. The open cast coal mine, Radhikapur coal mine, is a joint venture of three companies, Rugta, OCL and OCEAN.Additional District Magistrate D Senapati attended the meeting.