Angul, Jan. 5: Hundreds of people who might have to give up their land for a proposed project of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) today formed a human chain at Jamuda forest, 25km from here, asking that their three-point demands be met.

Most of those who formed the human chain under the banner of Anchalika Jindal Khyatigrastha Praja Samiti were women and children.

The protesters were chanting slogans against the steel major and the state government whom they accused of neglecting their interests.

While the protesters do not want to give up community properties such as forest land, gochar (grazing) land, village ponds, they demanded Rs 25 lakh per acre as compensation and permanent jobs for all land losers above the age of 18.

Villagers of Jamuda, Jamuda forest, Sadanadapur, Dudhiabeda, Jarada, Sankerajenge and Badakerejenge vowed not to give up the 400-acre jamuda forest to the steel company.

“If the forest is lost, it will be disastrous for the environment. The area will turn into desert if the forests are cut down for industry,” said Hrusikesh Sahu, a village leader. He was one of the links in the human chain .

Rabi Patnaik, the convener of the Prajasamiti, said: “We will not give an inch of community land such as ponds and forest land to the company however much it may say that it has acquired such land.”

Leaders such as social activist Krishna Mahanty, former zilla parishad chairman Sasmita Behera, social activists Ranjit Pattanaik, Smita Pattanik, Chitta Behera and Tapan Padhi addressed a public meeting.

The speakers called upon people to wage a “relentless struggle” for employment and community development programmes from the steel company. They accused state government officials and elected representatives of favouring industry while ignoring people’s interest.

District land acquisition and rehabilitation officer Tapan Satpathy said the government policy on land compensation and employment to land losers is being followed. “The Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee is empowered to take a decision on such matters. As regards forest land acquisition, it is for the Union ministry of environment and forest to give clearance.”