Gujarat: Violent protest at Vedanta’s project in Tapi

SURAT: At least 30 teargas shells were fired when the public hearing for Vedanta Group’s Hindustan Zinc’s smelter plant turned violent in Doswada village of Tapi district on Monday.
The mob, majority of them tribals, opposing what is being touted as the ‘world’s biggest zinc smelter complex’ started pelting stones during the hearing arranged by Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).
Reports suggested that at least five policemen were injured in stone pelting.
"People opposing the public hearing got agitated after which they turned violent and forced us to lob teargas shells. Two policemen sustained minor injuries and a police vehicle was damaged," said sub-inspector Rajesh Vasava of Songadh police station.
Tapi district superintendent of police (DSP), Sujata Majmudar said, "When the crowd was dispersing, somebody started throwing stones at policemen after which we fire teargas shells. The situation was brought under control.”
A tribal leader who attended the protest said people from at least two dozen villages had assembled to oppose the setting up of the plant over pollution fears and they had demanded that the GPCB defer the hearing for some time.
The state government had in October last year signed a pact with Hindustan Zinc to set up the zinc smelter complex with a capacity of 300 kilo tonnes per annum, entailing an investment of Rs 10,000 crore, on a 415 acre area in Doswada
Some of the protesting persons also suffered injuries.
Tight police bandobast was installed at Doswada GIDC on Monday. Locals have submitted a memorandum against its development in the area. Holding public hearing in the time of Covid-19 was one of the reasons for protests by locals.
Those participating in the hearing demanded that the hearing should be postponed while those outside shouted slogans with banners. Locals are protesting the plant over environmental issues as well.
After the district collector HK Vadhvaniya announced that the hearing was postponed, some people started pelting stones on cops.
“We are protesting against the project as it will have an adverse impact on the environment. Along with Mindhola River, lives of two lakh tribals will be affected. We wanted a permanent solution but the administration did not give a satisfactory reply, hence protestors sat on the road but police used force after which the stone pelting started,” claimed Amarsinh Z Chaudhary, founder of Adivasi Samanvay Manch, Vyara.