KalingaTV News Network
Athagarh: Protesting the setting up of a liquor manufacturing plant in the village, hundreds of locals in Matsyapur village of Radhakishorepur panchayat sat on a dharna on Thursday to demand immediate closure of the unit.
Hundreds of locals from the Matsyapur village reached the liquor manufacturing plant yesterday morning and resorted to sloganeering. Later, they staged a sit-in at the plant demanding immediate intervention of the sub-collector.
An agitating local said the plant was set up in 2014 by a private party. While the owner of the plant purchased land from the locals on pretext of setting up of a drinking water bottling unit and to employ locals, he cheated them and started a liquor production unit. The plant was closed after protests by locals the same year.
However, trouble erupted in the village again on September 4 following the plant owner’s decision to resume the liquor production at the unit. As the locals protested its opening, a meeting was held at the sub-collector’s office between villagers, plant authorities and the district administration on the issue and a decision was taken to maintain a status-quo at the plant site.
Locals staged demonstration yesterday after they found that despite the decision at the meeting the plant authorities are still carrying out manufacturing at the unit.
Ms Kalinga