Land oustees, mostly tribals, in and around Rourkela in Odisha’s Sundargarh district have rued that the State government went ahead with construction of India’s largest hockey stadium on the land which was promised to be restored to them.
Angry oustees urged the State government not to showcase tribal tradition and culture during Hockey World Cup 2023 slated to be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela.
Odisha government had acquired around 20,983.99 acres in 33 villages to help Rourkela Steel Plant (erstwhile Hindustan Steel Limited) construct an integrated steel plant and township and other ancillaries at Rourkela and for Mandira Dam Project from 1955 -1976. In addition to that, 11,144.445 acres government land was given to RSP by State Government.