Paradip, Dec. 3: A protest by people displaced by the Essar Steel Project today stalled construction of a boundary wall at the project site at Udayabata village near the port town.

The residents were protesting against the alleged dilly-dallying of both the administration and the Essar group in fulfilling their demands, including employment and rehabilitation of displaced families.

"The company has deliberately shied away from protecting the interests of people affected by the project. The company officials had promised to fulfil our demands on several occasions following mediation by the district administration. But they have not kept their words. As the company has ignored the people's demand, we stopped the construction," said Udayabata resident Ashok Pani.

"Local residents were assured of employment in the project. The plant has been operational for more than five years, but very few people from among the displaced families have got jobs. Even those who have got jobs do not have any job security," said Pramod Samantaray, the president of Maa Sheetala Surakhya Committee, which is spearheading the agitation.

Even an Essar official, requesting anonymity, admitted that they failed to rehabilitate all the displaced persons.

"The company has not been able to fulfil the residents' demands as some of those are not genuine. We have sought the help of the local administration's to settle the issue amicably," he said.

The project-affected villagers have also demanded immediate payment of unpaid compensation, implementation of rehabilitation package and employment.

"The displaced and land-losers number nearly 1,000, while only 261 families have been engaged in contractual jobs," said local trade union leader Sudhakar Mantri.

Additional district magistrate Biswajit Biswal, however, was hopeful of settling the issue.

"The administration has taken up the people's demands with the Essar plant management," he said.