The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) reached out to JSW Utkal Steel regarding the allegations of forced land acquisition, livelihood destruction, and police repression and invited the company to respond to the following questions:

1. How does JSW reconcile its claim that “villagers welcomed the project” when multiple reports and testimonies describe significant opposition, including protests, police violence, and arrests of dissenters?

2. Could JSW clarify the compensation process for residents of the 99% government-designated land? Specifically:

• Does the company acknowledge the presence of community/private land within the 99% government-designated land, if so, what reparations have been made?
• Have the residents of the 99% government-designated land been included in the Special R&R Package?
• If not, why have the residents of the 99% government-designated land been not been included in the Special R&R Package?

3. How does JSW address concerns that the land acquisition process violates the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act, 2013, particularly Section 101, which mandates the return of unused land after five years?

4. What steps will JSW take to investigate and remedy the allegations of police repression and human rights violations during the acquisition process?

The company did not respond.