Thursday, January 12 2006 10:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rourkela (Orissa): The indefinite economic blockade, launched here by tribals since Tuesday (Jan 10, 2006), was called off early today (Jan 12, 2006) after a marathon seven-hour discussion among the agitators' leaders, senior officials of the Government and the Rourkela Steel Plant last night.

The blockade, which had completely paralysed train services on the Howrah-Mumbai main line since Tuesday morning, was withdrawn at three am after a written assurance given by the administration, official sources said.

The tribals, agitating under the banner of the Rourkela Local Displaced Association (RLDA) and Anchalik Surakhya Committee, had put forth a five-point charter of demands, including restoration of the surplus land acquired for RSP in 1954 which had not been utilised and employment for land oustees.

"All these issues were discussed at the meeting before the agitators decided to call off the stir," the sources said.

The meeting was attended by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (northern division), Sambalpur, Ashok Dalvai, Additional District Magistrate, Shalini Pandit, RSP executive director (personnel and administration) S S Mohanty, RLDA President Ram Chandra Sahu, ASC president Anand Lakra and several political leaders.

The sources said that the Government had given a written assurance to the agitators, which stated that a notification would be issued inviting genuine oustees, who had not been provided with jobs in the RSP, to apply.

The applications would be verified and the genuine persons who had been left out would be offered jobs.

A meeting is also likely to be held on January 23 next to discuss the follow-up measures, they said.

"We are satisfied with the agreement," the Anchalik Surakhya Committee President, Ananda Lakra, said.

Dalvai said that the outcome of the meeting would be forwarded to the Government.

With the blockade withdrawn, train services are likely to be fully restored soon, railway sources said.

The sources said that the agitators had removed the fishplates at some places and as soon as the tracks were repaired the services would be restored.