Members of Sambalpur district Congress committee stage a dharna in front of the collector’s office. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Aug. 22: The Sambalpur district Congress committee today staged a dharna in front of the Sambalpur collector’s office demanding scrapping of the Sindol hydro power project.

“The committee has been opposing the proposed Sindol project since the day the memorandum of understanding was signed. This is an anti-people project. The state government should immediately scrap the MoU,” said Raj Kishore Das, president of the Sambalpur district Congress committee, who had led a protest rally here.

“We will not let the government execute this project. We also oppose any kind of public hearing in this connection. The people of this region have already shown their opposition to the proposed project. The government should withdraw it,” said Das.

“If the government does not scrap the MoU, the Congress will intensify the agitation throughout western Orissa,” he said. Sureswar Mishra, former president of the Sambalpur District Congress committee, said: “The government should right now scrap the MoU signed with the National Hydro Power Corporation for the Sindol project. This project will lead to massive displacement. The government should think of enhancing the water-retaining capacity of the Hirakud dam.”

“Moreover, the government is misleading people by giving false information. It said, 16 villages would be submerged owing to the proposed projects. The contradictory statements are indicating that the government itself is not clear about the number of villages to be submerged,” said Mishra.