Bhubaneswar: War over land, water and mines virtually derailed the much-trumpeted Mega Industrial Plan in Orissa in 2007, even as a row rages between the ruling BJD-BJP and opposition following turmoil in the Assembly and premature adjournment of its Winter Session 18 days ahead of schedule.
As the Naveen Patnaik government wades through hurdles to put back on rails POSCO's Rs 51,000-crore project and plants by Tata Steel, Mittal, Vedanta and others, investment proposals worth Rs 5 lakh crore remain only on paper.
Given the intensity of opposition to mega projects, it appears that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has a tough battle at hand in the coming year. The main opposition, Congress, has already come out with a 24-point 'chargesheet' against the government.
However, the Chief Minister has maintained that "peaceful industrialisation" remains his objective.
Land acquisition for big plants has been facing stiff resistance from people facing displacement. Some of the proposed sites, including that of POSCO near Paradip and Tata's Kalinga Nagar, witnessed police action and bloody armed clashes between different groups.
The violence and blasts at the POSCO site prompted social activist Medha Patkar and Left leaders to visit the area even as government promised to start a socio-economic survey of the demarcated area.
Water emerged as a major issue after agitating farmers were lathicharged at Hirakud on November 6. Opposition parties, including Congress, NCP and Communists rallied behind the peasants demanding cancellation of deals with industries for water supply.
"We will oppose tooth and nail all projects being set up on fertile land and moves to provide them water from Hirakud and Mahanadi systems as it would worsen the plight of farmers by shrinking irrigation", said a senior Congress leader, vowing to resist captive mines and ports for POSCO.
The battle over mines worsened after a Supreme Court order on Vedanta. The company has already started trial production of alumina at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district.
Besides opposing mining of bauxite from the Niyamgiri Hills, environmentalists and opposition leaders have demanded steps against granting mining lease in environmentally fragile areas. They want industries to purchase minerals from the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) at market rates.
The BJD-BJP combine witnessed a cold war almost all through the year. The saffron party had to remain in the alliance with little option before it given its limitation and BJD's strength. The BJP appears to have got an assurance from the Chief Minister that more of its members will be inducted into the Ministry.
The Congress too could not remain without intra-party squabbles. Voices for a leadership change have been heard frequently despite party's Orissa in charge Ajay Maken ruling out any change of guard at this juncture.
A major development in politics was the merger of Bijoy Mohapatra-led Orissa Gana Parishad with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in September, signalling possibility of a new configuration before the next polls.
The year also saw a spurt in Naxalite activities. The extremists not only spread their tentacles to over a dozen districts but also carried out several attacks killing at least 15 people, including security personnel.
Bureau Report
