SAMBALAPUR: Enraged farmers led by president of Sambalpur Zilla Krushak Surakhya Sangathan Murari Prasad Purohit gheraoed DRDA office here on Friday. They were protesting indifferent attitude of the district administration to the plight of farmers whose paddy saplings were damaged due to emissions from Hindalco.The farmers were peeved after they were made to wait for four hours for an audience with the District Collector Mrinalini Darswal. They then tried to barge into the DRDA office where Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting of Hindalco, Bhusan Power and Steel Limited and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) was underway but were stopped by the police. Darswal came out and discussed the matter with the farmers. She said that a team would visit the spot along with farmers' representatives on Monday to assess the loss. She also assured that due compensation would be paid to the farmers.On July 23, Suspended Particulate Matter released from the smelter plant of Hindalco damaged paddy saplings in Nua Jamda, Dengimocha and Mohammadpur.Meanwhile, Orissa State Pollution Control Board report attributed the damage to hydrogen fluoride emitted from the smelter plant of Hindalco. The letter also said that the loss can best be assessed by Department of Agriculture and Revenue.
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