Berhampur, June 17: Officials’ visit to Chatrapur has rekindled the hope of a titanium dioxide plant in Mayapatna.

A team from Calcutta-based Saraf Private Limited along with around 400 villagers, led by one S. Chakrapani Reddy of Takiria Berhampur, today met deputy collector Dipti Mahapatra to facilitate talks on the establishment of the plant.

“Construction of the plant is expected to start this month,” said general manager of Saraf Agencies Sankar Lal Modi. Talks are taking place with local people, who will lose land for the proposed plant.

Villages such as Takiria Berhampur, Kanamana, Chandrapada, Mayapatna and Kaliabali will be affected because of the plant.

“The company has agreed to provide jobs to the eligible aspirants within 20 months, or else it will provide full salary to them after 20 months from June 11 last. The villagers have reached an agreement with the company in this regard and we requested the deputy collector to give green signal to build the plant,” said Reddy.