She too is a mother. Her name is Gitanjali Bishoyi. Her house stands at the edge of Ghatipalli village. We were visiting Ghatipalli village under Kurutai Panchayat, Jagannathprasad Block. Environmentalist and educationist Prof. Usha Rani Acharya, who was with us, said thoughtfully—”Why don’t you go speak to that mother?” Why had Gitanjali come to such a large public gathering?
She was not alone. Along with her, over a hundred women had joined that day’s massive protest against the proposed land acquisition and setting up of an explosives factory.
As I spoke to her, her words carried the heat of gunpowder. With lightning determination, she spoke about her family’s future, the village’s survival, the welfare of livestock, and the protection of rice fields and other crops. She and the other women asked many pointed questions about the safety of their land. She declared powerfully:
“We’ll give our lives, but we won’t give our land.”
More than 400 people from about six panchayats participated in the protest. They alleged that a Bhubaneswar-based organization had prepared a report based on which people were being coerced into handing over land documents through threats and deception.
In unison, the villagers took a pledge not to allow such a dangerous and toxic explosives factory in their area. Under the name “Land Protection Committee,” the locals united in protest. Some sarpanches (village heads), elected representatives, renowned environmentalist Prafulla Samantra, academic Usha Rani Acharya, and journalist Bighneswar Sahu extended their moral and vocal support. They assured the villagers that their demands were justified and joined in chanting slogans:
“No explosives factory here!”
Many women spontaneously addressed the gathering. Locals noted that the region, rich in crops like millet, green gram (moong), and cashew, had long enjoyed peace and prosperity. They alleged that political interference supporting the factory was disturbing this peaceful environment.
About the Proposed Factory
A private company from Nagpur, Maharashtra—CDET Explosive Industries Pvt. Ltd.—plans to establish an explosives factory in Ghatipalli village. This facility would manufacture some of the most lethal explosives, as per the Government of India’s explosive regulations, including micro missile-capable weapons.
It would produce high-powered explosives like PETN and use highly toxic chemicals like ammonium nitrate as raw materials. The manufacturing process will release harmful waste substances such as lead azide, mercury fulminate, and sulphur dioxide, which can severely affect eyes, kidneys, lungs, and skin.
“Our children’s lives are at stake.”
In 2016 alone, 9.4 lakh (940,000) children globally died due to chemical pollution.
As per government norms, such a factory must be established in an uninhabited, desert-like area at least 10 kilometers away from any human settlement. However, in this case, over 30 villages from seven nearby panchayats—Kurutai, Pratappur, Gerada, Jhadabhui, Gandadhar, Baragam, and Adheigaon—as well as small towns like Belaguntha, Kulada, and Jagannathprasad are located within 10 km of the proposed site.
At any moment, the risk of a deadly explosion looms. The so-called “social impact assessment report” claims the eastern hill will act as a natural barrier—but that leaves three sides of the villages exposed to devastation.
Toxic gases from the factory would poison the air, water, and soil, turning fertile land into stone. This would destroy agriculture and grazing lands, leading to loss of livelihood and creating severe social problems such as poverty, unemployment, and distress migration.
Due to a shortage of surface water, the factory will exploit groundwater, rapidly depleting local aquifers. This would cause acute water shortages for villagers and livestock.
The designated land for the factory contains thousands of cashew trees, old mango and jackfruit trees, and various other fruit-bearing plants. These are a vital source of income for locals and play a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance.
Hence, preserving this land is everyone’s responsibility.
Considering all these dangerous and irreversible consequences, the people of Ghatipalli and surrounding hill regions, under the banner of “Hill and Land Protection Committee,” have strongly opposed the establishment of the factory and appealed to the administration and the government to cancel the project and remove the company from their region.
By Bighneswar Sahu
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