Zinc Smelter Parirakshana Andolana Committee (ZMPAC), panel formed to fight against reported bid to sell lands of Zinc Smelter here at Mindi by Vedanta, which acquired majority stake in Hindustan Zinc Limited, erstwhile State-owned company.
Ex-employees and those whose lands were acquired in the vicinity by the then AP Industrial Development Corporation in mid-1960s for industrialisation in the area, staged a dharna in front of the Zinc Smelter on Monday demanding reopening of the unit shutdown in 2013 or hand over the lands to the families from whom the lands were acquired by paying ₹850 per acre.
Addressing the protesters, committee convener Pitta Narayana Murthy said they would continue their agitation for a just cause till their demands were met.
He said since the Union government of India was holding nearly 29% stake in the Hindustan Zinc Limited even after its strategic sale to Vedanta (erstwhile Sterlite), there was no response from anyone to revive the Zinc Smelter.
In the event of failure to revive the plant, he said the government should take a decision to give the land back to the families of land-losers.
“There is no justification to allow Vedanta to sell away the lands by appointing a consultant,” Mr. Murthy said pointing out that at the time of disinvestment, the new management had promised that the workers’ interest would be fully protected and they would take up several activities under corporate social responsibility.
