The People’s Commission headed by Justice (retired) Madan B. Lokur on Sunday presented its interim report on police repression against people of Dhinkia near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha.

The Dhinkia villagers are protesting against land acquisition by the Odisha government for JSW Utkal Steel Limited (JUSL).

The commission asked the state government to listen to the voice of the affected people and shun repression tactics to acquire land.

The commission, in its report, recommended that all criminal cases foisted upon the villagers should be withdrawn and all coercive processes should cease. It also reminded the state that it had a constitutional obligation to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed to every citizen.

The commission maintained that citizens have the fundamental right to peacefully oppose displacement and have freedom of expression and movement and they cannot be criminalised for exercising these rights. The villagers have a right to peacefully protest against state oppression and to lead a dignified life.

JUSL plans to build a 13.2-million-tonne-per-annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant in Dhinkia that will also comprise a captive power plant of 900-megawatt capacity, and a cement grinding and mixing unit of 10 MTPA. Earlier, the land was acquired for POSCO's steel project in 2005. Following POSCO’s exit, the Odisha government transferred the land to the JUSL in June 2017.

Following the state repression of people for acquiring the land, the People’s Commission was constituted taking experts from various fields, headed by Justice (retired) Madan B. Lokur of the Supreme Court. The other members of the commission are social activist Medha Patkar, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, former MP Hannan Mollah, Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty and Prof. Nandini Sundar.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, Medha Patkar said: “The commission attempted to understand and deliberate upon the problems related to repression and criminal cases, forest rights, livelihood, environment, social development issues, resettlement and rehabilitation, and the violation of constitutional rights.”

Justice (retired) Madan B. Lokur said: “We need sustainable development. Otherwise, we have to face wrath of the nature as we are facing now in Sikkim. The people’s voices must be heard. We heard the grievances of the people of the Dhinikia region on Saturday. We came out with our observation and recommendations.”

The commission, in its report, observed that forest clearance has been obtained by the project proponent without the determination of the forest rights of the residents. It recommends that the process of recognition of their forest rights as per the said act and rules should be determined by inviting claims. “Till their individual, community and cultural rights are determined, no steps for eviction or any other coercive action should be taken by the state or any other agency,” it said.

The commission said the people who deposed said that the steel plant would not offer a better standard of living for them as against what they already had by growing betel vines, cashew, kewra, agriculture and fishing.