Ayataram Mandavi, Sarpanch of Dilmili village in Bastar, heard of a proposed “ultra-mega steel plant by the NMDC and the SAIL” in his village through a local newspaper a few months before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Dantewada on May 9.
Ayataram and other representatives from 11 surrounding villages met the Bastar District Collector with the newspaper cuttings for more information on the plant.
“But the Collector told us that he knew nothing about the proposed project in our villages,” claimed Mr. Mandavi.
The villagers also attended the Prime Minister’s rally to confirm if the plant was indeed coming up in their area.
“We are still confused as the Prime Minister announced that the plant would come up in Bastar but he did not mention our villages, whereas on the very next day, every newspaper reported that the plant would be set up in Dilmili,” Suklu Mandavi, a janpad sadasya (local body representative) from the neighbouring Maoilibata village, told The Hindu .
