Paradip, Aug. 10: Protesters have put brakes on the construction of Rs 40 crore worth Plastic Park on the township's outskirts.

Landowners seeking revised compensation and employment avenues have stalled the construction work several times in past months.

During the past one year, the project has hardly moved an inch. The boundary wall of the proposed park is yet to be completed, said an official.

Land acquisition for industrial ventures has often witnessed resistance and protest in the bustling Paradip industrial hub.

The proposed park is apparently heading towards the same direction. In November last, the construction had been halted following protest from land-losers.

Residents of Rangiagada and Siju villages were demanding, among other things, revised compensation package for those, who had lost land to the proposed project. Rehabilitation and employment opportunities for the displaced and the landlosers' families also stayed on agitating people's agenda.

The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) had undertaken the boundary construction of the proposed park.

The earmarked project site stretch spread over 200 acres is located at Siju-Rangiagada locality.

The park is being established under the stewardship of the department of chemicals and petrochemicals of Union government. Idco would have stakes in the project.

People have put forth demand for higher compensation for the land. They have also raised rehabilitation and employment issues. Their demands have been brought to the notice of higher-ups, said Paradip additional district magistrate Ramakrushna Sahu.

"We are not opposed to the project. We are agitating to press forth our demand. Idco had paid the landowners Rs 13.49 lakh per acre as compensatory sum. However, there are instances of government agencies paying larger compensation to the land-losers in other industrial projects in the Paradip areas. Therefore, our demand for revised compensation is just," said a landowner, Rajendra Rout.