Seeking the scrapping of the MoU with the ArcelorMittal which proposed to set up a 12 MTPA greenfield steel project here,thousands of tribal farmers today staged a demonstration before the district collector8217;s office here.
The protesters under the banner of 8220;Mittal Pratirodha Mancha8221; MPM accused the state government and the world8217;s largest steel maker of adopting anti-peasants attitude by attempting to acquire fertile land under Patana tehsil here.
8220;We will not allow Mittal to acquire our fertile land for setting up its steel plant,8221; Muralidhar Sardar,president of MPM told the gathering which assembled before the district collector8217;s office.
They also submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister through the district collector.
Their demands include scraping of the MOU,Land deeds for those who were in possession of agricultural as well as homestead lands,stopping of industrial complexes in the fertile lands.
The farmers rally came barely a couple of days after ArcelorMittal8217;s country chief Sanak Mishra announced that the company was committed to its Orissa project.