Paradip, Dec. 28: Job hopes of families displaced by the Paradip oil refinery project have been rekindled with the Indian Oil reassuring employment to the affected people.

The Jagatsinghpur district administration has reached an amicable settlement with the company regarding rehabilitation.

“We held dialogue with Indian Oil Corporation Limited officials. The company has made a commitment to safeguard the larger interests of the local people,” said district collector Satya Kumar Mallick. “The company has assured us to engage at least one member from each displaced famil.,” said Mallick.

Work at the construction site was paralysed on December 23 when the displaced families blocked the main entrance of the site.

The principal demand of the protesters, who were the displaced people, was permanent jobs to at least one member of each of the 143 displaced families.

“Those who have been paid cash compensation against the acquisition of their land are not entitled for the job cover. However, on humanitarian ground, the company has agreed to engage all the families either on ad-hoc and permanent basis ,” Mallick said.

General manager (HR) of the project W.R. Barbara said: “While 143 families had lost their land to the project, 92 families had rejected the employment offer and had been paid higher compensation against their land. Thus, at least one member from the remaining 49 families would feature on the permanent payroll of the company.”