Titanium plant in Chhatrapur, Ganjam likely to start soon

Construction of titanium dioxide plant near Chhatrapur in Ganjam district is likely to start soon as the promoter of the proposed plant has agreed to fulfil almost all demands of land-losers. The company officials submitted the agreement with the land-losers to the district administration on Monday.
"We have agreed to pay an extra Rs 40,000 per acre of acquired land, at least a job to each of the project- affected families and undertake periphery development work in the area," said senior general manager of promoter Saraf Agency Private Limited (SAPL) S L Modi. The extra amount would be paid to the land-losers after commencement of work, he said. Most of the affected people have agreed with the proposal and if all things go well, the construct work would start from June 21, he said.
"We have agreed with the company's proposal," said S Reddy, one of the land-losers of Tikiria Berhampur. "We want the company to expedite the work," said adviser to Titanium plant land-losers' association Bipra Acharya.
The Kolkata-based company had acquired around 230 acre, including 199 acre private land, for the project five years ago. Around 300 people of four villages - Tikiria Berhampur, Kanamana, Chandrapada and Mayipatna - lost their lands for the project. Courtesy: ToI