The public hearing of the RSB Metaltech in the Kalyansingpur block was vandalized by some people today. A group of about 50-60 people shouting slogans against the company came to protest at the place where the public hearing was to be held for the environmental clearance as mandated by the State pollution control board.
The matter took a turn for worse, when some agitators took to the podium to stop the public hearing. Within a short ime the entire 'Pandal" was vandalized and the stage was broken to pieces. ADM Rayagada, who was nominated by the district administration to conduct the public hearing, had to leave the places , along with BDO and Tahsildar Kalyansinghpur, i the face of stiff violent resistance from the agitators. It is widely believed that there was active involvement of outsiders ( i.e. people not belonging to those Panchayats) in this act of lawlessness.
Collector Rayagada, speaking to FOSM stated that, 'the public hearing is a legal perquisite for setting up any industrial unit in the district and it is the duty of the district administration to create an atmosphere where any individual is feels free to express his opinion in the public hearing. The act of those involved in such violent activity is against the spirit of freedom of expression. Those who have any grievance against the setting up of an industrial unit have all the right to express their opinion in this matter. The protesters could have very well used the public hearing forum to register their protest'.
However instead the agitators chose to trample the rights of others by not allowing the public hearing to be conducted and thereby depriving the local people of their constitutional right to express their minds. The unconstitutional behaviour of the agitators goes to prove their vested interests in obstructing a constitutional process and their apathy for development in the area.
ADM Rayagada will submit a report on the incident to Collector Rayagada. The district adminstration will give its finding to the Superintendent of the Police for necessary action in this matter.
