Sugar Factory dream turns sour for locals

BHADRAK: Hopes for jobs among the youths of the district were dashed after a private company welshed on its promise to set up a sugar factory here. Now, IDCO officials and the residents are at loggerheads over the acquired land for the project. Sources said IDCO had acquired 229 acres, including 11.83 acres of government land, for the proposed sugar factory to be set up by Dharani Sugars Ltd at Barikpur in Bhandaripokhari block, in 1996. While  land was acquired in Paimahura, Helpur and Majurigadia, the government had promised jobs to the land losers. Altogether 275 families had willingly handed over their lands with a hope of  jobs. But their dreams lay shattered with the company having moved out for unknown reasons.The local residents are now opposing IDCO attempts to hand over the land to some other company. With lost hope, the people now want their land back. “It has been 15 years since we were promised jobs, but no factory has come up here. We have been the losers all this while with many having lost their livelihood,” said Gouranga Behera, a resident.Though a couple of years back industrialist Trailokya Mishra, owner of Nayagarh sugar factory, had evinced interest for setting up a plant here, it is yet to reach any conclusion. Though a meeting with the district administration, locals and the IDCO officials was arranged then, there has been no headway in the project.IDCO officials, however, said they had purchased and developed the land and hence it can be handed over to any interested parties for industrial units. “The locals have no right over the land. But we will definitely give importance to their demands and the promises made before,” said an IDCO official.ADM Debendra Mohapatra said the people who have ceded their land would support if a sugar factory comes up in their area.

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