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] |