Dhenkanal, May 25: Local residents today supported the 3200MW Gajmara Super Thermal Power Project at Talabarkot near Dhenkanal town.

At the mandatory public hearing, organised by the district rural development agency, most of the speakers favoured the power project in their area. According to norms, the authorities will have to conduct a public hearing to record the opinion of the local people before the environmental clearance is given to a project. Of the 22 people who spoke at the meeting, there were only two voices of dissent. Over 1,000 villagers from the areas of Talbarkot, Manipur, Saptsajya and Nadiali turned up for the meeting.

“The hearing was made for the first phase (1600MW) of the project. A majority of locals supported the project in their speeches,” said Anupam Behera, regional officer of the state pollution control board.

Welcoming the power project, local samiti member Pratima Behera said the authorities must provide proper compensation and rehabilitation package to the affected svillagers.

Expressing similar support to the NTPC venture, another leader from Talbarokot, Maheswar Raut, said: “The power project will usher in development, but it has to take care of rehabilitation of the landlosers and the affected.”

Opposing the project, local leader J.K. Jena said the Centre was setting the power project for benefit of other states.

“Orissa gets a raw deal always as we have seen from other NTPC projects in the state. Therefore, there is no need to locate the project here and endanger the environment and fertile land,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction over the hearing, an NTPC official said the local people had extended “wholehearted support to the project”.

Earlier, environment groups in Dhenakal town held a rally opposing the project. Their contention was that the proposed plant would destroy the state’s major tourist centre — Saptasajya.

NTPC-Gajmara power project requires 3,000 acres and will draw water from the Mahandi river. The power major is setting up two ultra power projects in the state. One is at Gajmara and the other at Darliapalli in Sundergarh district.