Cuttack, Jan. 12: A group of Paradip residents have filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in Orissa High Court seeking judicial intervention on environmental grounds against the government acquiring land in Udayabata near Paradip for a “calcinet petroleum coke manufacturing unit”.

“The land sought to be acquired is not in public interest as the proposed industry would increase the misery and cause serious health hazard to the people of Udayabata who are already living in hazardous conditions because of severe air and water pollution caused by rampant emission of carbon dust from an existing carbon manufacturing factory nearby,” the PIL contends.

Subha Narayan Lenka (49) and eight other residents of Paradip town have filed the PIL asking that the land acquisition notification be quashed. The government had issued the notification under the Land Acquisition Act for acquisition of 8.41 acre of land for public purpose at Udayabata Mauza of Kujang tehsil in Jagatsinghpur district.

The petitioners have alleged that the administration was “resorting to colourable exercise of power in making acquisition of land to give undue benefits to a private company”.

According to the petition, Udayabata is inhabited mostly by rural folk. Earlier, the state administration had displaced residents of Ghanabalia Basti and rehabilitated them at Ugayabata Dham in Udayabata village so that port activities at Paradip Port became smoother. Now, more than 10,000 people are living there. The residential quarters of the staff of Indian Oil Corporation are also located there.

Although many complaints had been submitted to apprise the authorities of unchecked emission of carbon dust by the private carbon manufacturing companies that was posing serious health hazards and endangering the lives of the people, particularly those of the children of Udayabata, the administration had not taken any corrective measures, the petition said.

People of Udayabata had filed before the special land acquisition officer (Jagatsinghpur) objections related to acquiring of land for “Goa Carbon Limited” for the proposed calcinet petroleum coke manufacturing unit. Subsequently, a public hearing was held and people raised objections and demanded “prompt steps for de-notification and cancellation of the land acquisition process on environmental grounds as the proposed industry would pose further health hazards to the people”.

But both the special land acquisition officer and the collector had subsequently glossed over the grievances of the local people and continued with the land acquisition process, the petition has alleged.