Balangir power station is a 1320 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station proposed by Sahara India Power Corporation. The plant was to be built near the Ghantabahali-Luthurbandh village of Titlagarh, Orissa. Sahara India Power Corporation Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Orissa for the establishment of the plant. The proposed power station was opposed by local villagers since its announcement. According to an October 2011 newspaper report, a company land acquisition agent, was attacked and injured by project opponents in Luthurbandh village [1]. The local villagers along with tribal people took out a padyatra (walk in protest) in these villages [2]. During the ‘bhoomi pooja’ (inauguration ceremony) in April 2011, people disrupted the ceremony. Police had been deployed and Section 144 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) had been imposed to disrupt to protesting mobs. People mainly opposed the project because of apprehension of thermal power related pollution. Also they were scared about the increasing temperature in the region. It is to be noted here that the Titlagarh region have recorded one of the highest temperature in India during summer. Also, the proposed project will affect the livelihood of the people in that area because the agriculture is the only means of sustenance of the people in that area. The villagers were also not convinced with the company’s promises of job because like other project very few land losers will get job. Also, not many villagers are technically qualified and fit for skilled jobs in the power plant [3] |
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Balangir Power Station, Orissa, India |
| Country: | India |
| State or province: | Orissa |
| Location of conflict: | Village-Ghantabahali-Luthurbandh; Block-Titilagarh |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Thermal power plants |
| Specific commodities: | Coal Land Electricity |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | Sahara India Power Corporation Limited, the subsidiary of Sahara India Pariwar’s real estate company Sahara Prime City Limited signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Orissa for setting up a 1320 MW (2 x 660) Coal Based Thermal Power Plant in Turla Tehsil of Balangir District, Orissa. The estimated initial investment for the project was about Rs.5604 Cr. The MoU was signed between Government of Orissa and Sahara Power Projects, in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Orissa. |
| Project area: | 324 |
| Level of Investment: | 900,000,000 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Start of the conflict: | 2010 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Sahara India Power Corporation Limited from India - subsidiary of Sahara India Pariwar’s real estate company Sahara Prime City Limited |
| Relevant government actors: | Government of Orissa Orissa Pollution Control Board |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Local Villagers |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Landless peasants Neighbours/citizens/communities |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Public campaigns Street protest/marches Property damage/arson The local villagers along with tribal people of Luthurbandh, Ghantabahali, MahadaSaguna Munda and Podapadar took out a padyatra (procession) in these villages to protest the upcoming plant[2] |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Soil contamination, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
Outcome
| Project Status | Proposed (exploration phase) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Institutional changes New legislation Strengthening of participation New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study |
| Development of alternatives: | They demand the shifting of power plants from this area to save the people’s land and their livelihood. They don’t oppose the setting up power plant. It should not in a fertile area where people are living peacefully and managing their livelihoods through agriculture [2] |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | According to various reports two other power plants are also going to be set up around 20km radius of Titilagarh and Kesinga. These power plants altogether will increase the temperatures in the region. Already the Titilagarh region is famous for its high temperature allover India. Setting up this plant will further worsen the situation and will make the area completely inhabitable. Fly ash generated by the plant will increase air pollution further. The local people are solely depending on agriculture and they earn their livelihoods by selling agricultural products. If the thermal power plants come up in the area the agricultural activity will be severely affected and many people will lose their livelihoods [2] |
Sources & Materials
| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Links to general newspaper articles, blogs or other websites |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Swapan Kumar Patra |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
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