The Anti-Special Economic Zone Prochar Mancha opposed the setting up of a steel plant by the Jindals in Salboni at a conference in Kolkata Press Club on Friday. Joint secretary of the Mancha Arjun Sengupta said: “The steel plant would bring grief to the residents of Salboni.” Criticising the government’s move, noted author Mahasweta Devi published a report on the area, which claimed that the land of farmers was acquired forcefully and many have not yet received the compensation as agreed by the government.Recently, a 10-member team of social workers had visited the area to prepare the report. According to the report, the memorandum of understanding between the state government and the Jindal group has not been made public. The Mancha demanded the government to stop the project with immediate effect and introduce development projects for the tribals living in the area.A 10-minute documentary film highlighting the negative aspects of the project was also screened on the occasion.
