Protesters gather at the entrance to the Essar steel mill on Tuesday. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Aug. 2: Tension mounted today at the Essar steel plant site as irate workers and the landlosers’ families staged protest against lawlessness allegedly perpetrated by a particular trade union.

The workers and villagers, displaced by the steel project, locked the entrance to the steel mill site paralysing construction work. The protesters were supported by a few trade unions, which, too, opposed the style of functioning of a newly floated union.

The situation turned volatile as rival unions staged dharna advocating the cause of displaced families and workers. As the deployment of police was thin owing to preoccupation with the Posco land acquisition process, breach of peace was on the cards. However, possible untoward situation was averted as police reinforcements were rushed to the spot.

“Today’s agitation was the fallout of prevailing trade union rivalry. The police maintained close watch on the situation. No untoward incident occurred during the course of agitation,” said sub-divisional police officer Shantanu Kumar Das.

“The main grievance of the agitating workers and displaced families was that they were being intimidated by the newly-floated Essar Steel Displaced Families’ Union. A worker of the plant was recently attacked by goons backed by the new union. Pressure tactics are being used to make workers switch allegiance,” said Tofan Swain, chief of the Gramya Unnayan Parishad.

“The families, who have given away their land, are yet to be compensated. They should be given their due sum with the addition of 12 per cent annual interest. The landowners in Nuagada gram panchayat are locked in land settlement disputes. These disputes need to be settled at the earliest so that those displaced could receive the relief. Not all from the land-losers’ families have been brought under employment in the plant. The company should keep up its commitment and provide jobs to atleast one member from the each landloser’s family,” said Swain.

On the other hand, project director of Essar Steel D.K. Gupta said: “The plant management is sensitive towards the legitimate demands of landlosers’ families and workers engaged in the plant. For factors beyond our control, payment of compensation to the displaced families is getting delayed. The company has made the timely deposit of compensation sum with the administration.”