Bhubaneswar, April 27: Troubles are pouring for the Vedanta Alumina company (VAL).

The Niyamgiri Land Losers Association (NLLA) has accused its subsidiary, the VAL, of cheating them and taking their land at a throwaway price.

“The company has taken away our land at Rs 1 lakh per acre. This is too low. They should pay us at the rate of Rs 10 lakh per hectare. We are cheated,” said president of the organisation Surendra Nath Nag.

However, unlike Green Kalahandi, this organisation is not opposed to the VAL’s plant at Lanjigarh.

The NLLA has a list of demands which it wants the company to meet. “We are all for the plant provided our demands are fulfilled,” said members of the association.

Addressing a news conference here, Nag said they had begun an agitation from March 26 in front of the Vedanta’s alumina plant at Niyamagiri near Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district. “We are not opposed to the company. However, they should give due compensation for taking our land and livelihood,” he said.

Significantly, the Vedanta Alumina is fighting a prolonged legal battle with the Centre to get necessary permission for the expansion of its plant from a one-million-tonne to six-million-tonne plant. The expansion plan was baulked by the Centre and many workers left the company.

The association said eight years had passed by, but the VAL has not made any attempt to resolve the problems. The company should spend at least 10 per cent of its profit for the peripheral development work instead of five per cent, now earmarked.

“After the company had failed to give employment to one member from each family, it declared to give one-time settlement in lieu of employment.

“The company should at least give one-time compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each person above 18 years who had lost their land,” Nag said.

The demand also includes construction of a 50-bed hospital at Lanjigarh.

“There should be a treatment facility for malaria at the hospital.

“A medicine specialist as well as one gynaecologist should also be appointed in the area,” he said.

The association also demanded extension of health service facilities to all the families living within 10km peripheries of the company. All roads up to 50km connecting from Lanjigarh should also be improved, it said.

The association also demanded monthly allowances of Rs 500 for the old, widow and destitute of the area. The list of demands includes pipe waters, street light for each villages, free education for all the children from Class I to college level.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar could not be contacted as he was tied up in a meeting.

Bhubaneswar, April 27: For Vedanta troubles are pouring at the moment. The Niyamgiri Land Losers Association has accused its subsidiary, the Vedanta Alumina company (VAL), of cheating them and taking their land at a throw way price.

“ The company has taken away our land at Rs 1 lakh per acre. This is too low. They should pay us at the rate of Rs 10 lakh per hectre. We are feeling cheated,” said the organisation’s president Surendra Nath Nag.

However, unlike Green Kalahandi this organization is not opposed to the VAL’s plant at Lanigarh. The NLLA only has a long list of demands which it wants the company to meet. “ If our demands are fulfilled, we are all for the plant,” the association members said.

Addressing a Press conference here, Nag said they have begun an agitation from March 26 in front of the Vedanta’s Alumina plant at Niyamagiri near Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district. “ We are not opposed to the company. But they should give due compensation for taking our land and livelihood,” he added.

Significantly, the Vedanta Alumina is fighting a prolonged legal battle with the Centre to get necessary permission for the expansion of its plant from one million tonne to six million tonne plant. The expansion plan was baulked by the Centre and many workers left the company.

The association said eight years had lapsed but the VAL has not made any attempt to resolve the problems. The company should spend at least 10 per cent of its profit for the peripheral development work instead of five percent now earmarked.

“After the company failed to give employment to provide jobs to member from each family has declared to give one time settlement in lieu of employment. The company should at least give one time compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each people above eighteen years who had lost their lands,” Nag said.

A 50- bedded hospital should be set up at Lanjigarh. “ The hospital should provide treatment to malaria. A medicine specialty and one gyenic specialty also be appointed in the area,” he said.

The association also demanded that health service facilities should be extended to all the families living within 10 km peripheries of the company. All the roads upto 50 kilometres connecting from Lanjigarh should be improved.

The association also demanded monthly allowances of Rs 500 for the old, widow and destitute of the area. The long list of demands also include pipe waters, street light for each villages, free education for all the children from class 1 to college level.

The chief executive officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar could not be contacted as he was tied up in an important meeting.