Gopalpur has been in the news for the last 20 years because of a conflict between Tata Steel and local farmers, initially over the establishment of an integrated steel plant and a township in the Ganjam district. The conflict then extended to the creation of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on the same land.
In 1997, following the death of two women protesting the proposed plant at a protest rally, Tata Steel abandoned the project. Tata kept hold of about 3,000 acres of fertile agricultural land even after abandoning the steel project. In 2010, Tata Steel established a new multi-product SEZ in Gopalpur including an industrial park to attract high bidding investors. In 2015, almost 500 protestors from among those displaced by the project marched under the banner of ‘Tata Visthapita Manch’ demanding a revised compensation for their land acquired by the company by fifty lakh rupees per acre as well as permanent employment to one member of each displaced family. Even in 2019, many continued to be without jobs, despite being promised otherwise, and therefore continued to protest.
Apart from the Industrial park, the state government announced its plan on September, 2020 , reportedly to set up a Bulk Drug Park in Gopalpur to industrialize the pharmaceutical sector and provide further employment opportunities to the local community.
In December 2021, Smartchem Technologies, a subsidiary of Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corporation, laid the foundation for its Rs 2,200-crore technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) complex at the Gopalpur industrial park. The construction of the project began in June 2022 and is scheduled for commissioning by August 2024. But locals from the villages surrounding the industrial park - Kalipalli, Ramayapalli, Agraharam, Paikapada , P.Laxmipur, Badaputi, Upallaputi,Haripur, Arjyapali, R. Katuru, Chamakhandi, Alipur, Narayanpur, Mansarkota,Matikhalo, Konamana,Sriramchandrapur, Baginapeta, and Basanaputi have protested against the new TAN complex.
The villagers contend that an ammonia nitrate plant in the immediate periphery of their villages can pose serious health hazards for them. "The villages nearby are already suffering due to an existing industry in the area. Kidney issues are rampant and nothing has been done to bring respite. Now they want to bring in another industry and pollute our air and water even further," said Dandapani Pradhan, one of the affected villagers. He along with other affected villagers have also filed a writ petition in the Orissa High Court challenging the environment clearance granted to Smartchem Technologies.
In February 2023, villagers gathered to protest against the construction of a boundary wall by Deepak Fertilizers. An FIR was filed against 79 people. However, two of the above mentioned villages have withdrawn their protest and given their consent to the project.
On 9 November 2023, a writ petition was filed by the community challenging the Environmental Clearance granted for setting up of a technical ammonium nitrate manufacturing plant in Gopalpur was disposed of as withdrawn, giving liberty to the petitioners to file a better writ petition.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Demand for employment
Refusal to give up land for the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
79
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Out on bail
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
No
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Sections 147, 148, 186, 188, 294, 307, 323, 353, 387, 447, 506, 120-B, 149
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Yes they were informed, Yes they had access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
20000
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Violation of free prior informed consent
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Orissa High Court
Case Number
WP (C) 8787/2023
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Displacement
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
February 14, 2023
Location of Violation
Chatrapaur, Ganjam
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Industrial Development Corporation , Odisha
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Tata Steel Limited
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Local Farmers
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
79
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Out on bail
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
No
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Sections 147, 148, 186, 188, 294, 307, 323, 353, 387, 447, 506, 120-B, 149
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Yes they were informed, Yes they had access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Yes
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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