Hundreds of farmers staged a protest in Ranchi on Monday against the acquisition of land for projects envisaged by aluminium major Hindalco, and steel manufacturer Jindal Steel and Power.
"We will lay down our lives but will not give an inch of land to Jindal Steel and Hindalco," the protesters shouted as they marched to the governor's residence to lodge their protest.
"We oppose acquisition of agricultural land for such projects," said Amit Kumar, a leader of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), the organisation that spearheaded on Monday's protest march. "Steel will not fill our stomachs. We need wheat and rice, not steel."
Another key investor in the state, ArcelorMittal, is also facing similar protests in Jharkhand, where the steel behemoth proposes to set up a 12 million tonne steel plant.
Jindal Steel proposes to set up a six million tonne steel plant, as well as a 1,000 MW power plant, on a combined investment of Rs 150 billion (Rs 15,000 crore). Both companies have been allocated iron ore mines and coal blocks in Jharkhand.
Hindalco is setting up a smelter plant on an investment of Rs 80 billion (Rs 8,000 crore).