Essar Steel engages new transporter

The Essar Steel Plant authorities have engaged a Cuttack-based new transport company and ignored the Farmer Association of Paradip Port-affected land losers, which was engaged in transportation of raw materials and products of the company.

Sources said the farmer body had been entrusted the transport works of the Essar Steel since 2008. Now, the company owes huge amount of dues to the farmer body.

But on Wednesday, it engaged a new company to transport its raw materials.

Even the company deployed some antisocial goons to stop the dumpers and trucks engaged by the farmer organisation from entering the Essar Plant.

The farmer body has urged the local administration and police to protect their livelihoods.

 “We have purchased trucks and dumpers with land compensation money and engaged for transportation in the Essar Steel Plant.

If the plant don’t reengage the farmer association for transportation work, the company will be responsible for law and order situation in Paradip,” said association president Ratnakar Jena.

The association has made this allegation and urged the local police, ADM, ASP and the plant authorities to take necessary action and protect farmers’ interest.