Rourkela: The public hearing for proposed expansion of Odisha Cements Limited's Rajgangpur plant was postponed on Wednesday following opposition from a section of people.

The company needs 873.056 acres for the expansion project. Biramitrapur's Independent MLA George Tirkey, who is leading the opposition to the hearing, said: "According to Article 244 (1B) of the Constitution, a gram sabha should be held before initiating any project. The order for the public hearing was given in violation of the governor's order. The public hearing was organised without carrying out any survey work in the villages affected."

The project would affect five gram panchayats near Rajgangpur. While Tirkey and other groups are opposing the project, villagers from Alanda, Bihabandh, Jhagarpur, Kesramal, Raiberna, Katanga, Dhauraadha, Lanjiberna, Kakuda and other areas have voiced their support for it. At the meeting, too, the crowd was divided into two groups.

Katang villager Narayana Singh, who is supporting the project, said: "The project will help bring development. If we continue to oppose everything, then we will remain underdeveloped."

Mohan Singh, another supporter of the project, said: "Rumours are being spread against the project and the public hearing. The hearing is regarding the pollution caused by mining. Outsiders are trying to interfere in a local issue."

Sundargarh additional district magistrate Bhaskar Chandra Turuk, who was present for the hearing, said: "The opposition to the meeting is illegal. People are saying that they are not prepared for it. So, we have postponed it for a while. They are saying that that gram sabha is necessary, but the governor's approval has come after the opposing parties had approached him."

"We have deployed 13 platoons of security personnel at the spot and there has been no law and order situation. The meeting has been postponed but we are alert as there are people from both the sides present," said Rajgangpur police station inspector-in-charge Pradip K. Jena.