ANGUL: Acting on the directions of the High Court, police cleared blockades at two of the three gates of Jindal and Steel and Power Limited at Nisha near here on Saturday without any resistance from the agitating locals.
Local villagers had blocked all the gates of JSPL for the last five days preventing movement of essential supplies to the township.
Making further appeal at a press conference here on Saturday, JSPL Executive Director Rajesh Jha urged people to desist from the path of agitation and extend their support as in the past to build the project. He said 13 of their 20 demands had been met and others could be discussed after the panchayat polls. Jha also expressed his desire to reach out to the injured.
ADM Debraj Senapati and Additional SP Jyoti Mahapatra rushed to the spot with eight platoons of armed police and removed blockades at two main gates clearing traffic to the township.
About 500 JSPL families had to manage without essential supplies for a week, according to SP Satyabrata Bhoi.
The people, however, continued to block the third gate where materials are being transported and held a protest meeting there.
According to local villagers, even after the tripartite talks on Friday the agitation which began on January 24 would continue till the company concedes all their demands, including hiking the compensation and a job to each family.
The Human Resource Department assistant vice-president (AVP) Saroj Mahapatra and CSR AVP Prashant Hota assured people of all steps to rehabilitate them and restore past benefits.