Large numbers of villagers have strongly opposed (during a public hearing environment clearance by the Odisha government and the State Pollution Control Board) the establishment of a cement plant of Emami with production capacity of 2 MT per annum at Manititi village of Jajpur district, Odisha.
Commotion prevailed at the public hearing as many agitated villagers threw chairs and raised objection to the proposed cement plant. They also alleged that their villages will be polluted after the construction of the cement plant. "The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) had acquired around 70 acres of land as per law for the cement plant in two villages. We organised the public hearing at Danagadi . But many villagers opposed the proposed plant for which we cancelled the public hearing. We will again organise the public hearing meeting after issuing notices to the villagers," said OSPCB Kalinganagar Regional Officer Dr Anup Kumar Mallick.