Stir against Baldota steel plant in Koppal completes 100 days

The ongoing agitation against the proposed steel plant by the Baldota Group on the outskirts of Koppal completed 100 days on Saturday, with protesters intensifying their opposition through a massive public gathering and renewed calls for collective resistance.

Addressing the gathering, senior seer Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swamy of Sanehalli Mutt urged people of the district to unite and demonstrate their opposition through democratic means, including a call to boycott elections if the project was not withdrawn. He was speaking at the protest organised by the Koppal District Bachao and Environmental Protection Forum near the city bus stand.

“Development must not come at the cost of people’s health, agriculture and environment. True development, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Sarvodaya, can be achieved only when environment, agriculture, health, education and governance progress together. What we are witnessing here is the opposite. Condition of villages surrounding industrial zones reflected a grim reality,” the seer said.

Questioning the role of regulatory authorities, alleging lax enforcement of pollution norms, the seer called for strict monitoring and prevention of industrial expansion. “If excessive smoke from a private vehicle invites penalties, how can large industries emitting pollution escape scrutiny? I appeal to all elected representatives to participate in a mass agitation planned on February 24 and say that the protest will end only if the proposed plant was stopped,” he said.

Call for bandh

As part of resolutions adopted at the meeting, the forum announced a voluntary Koppal bandh on February 24, recalling a similar shutdown held in 2025 under the leadership of Gavisiddeshwara Mahaswamiji. A massive protest march from Gavi Mutt to the taluk stadium has been planned, with organisers aiming to mobilise over 10,000 people, including students and women.

The resolutions also included the return of tree guards and cement benches allegedly provided under the company’s CSR initiatives, calling it an attempt to “mask environmental damage”. Protesters demanded a comprehensive health survey in 20 surrounding villages and sought environmental and public health restoration measures, including relocation of polluting industries based on expert assessments.

Among other demands were the closure of factories allegedly polluting Tungabhadra river, supply of treated drinking water to people and cattle until pollution is addressed, immediate restoration of the Basapur public lake to community control, and intensified opposition to the proposed expansion of Bhadrashree factory.

Several speakers, including writers, activists, lawyers and farmers, highlighted the health and livelihood concerns of residents from villages such as Hirebagnal, Halavarti, Kunikeri, Ginigera and Basapur. Farmers from affected villages displayed damaged crops at the venue, raising slogans against the government and industrial policies.

A blood donation camp was also organised in collaboration with the Red Cross as part of the programme, symbolising solidarity with affected communities.

The event concluded with the formal adoption of resolutions and cultural performances highlighting environmental concerns. Organisers said the agitation would continue until their demands were addressed, and reiterated that public mobilisation would be further intensified in the coming days.