Rurkela

According to the census report of 2001 the population of Rourkela is 4,84,292. But the number of population as per the census record of 1921 was only 382 The then railway station of Rourkela was within the revenue village of Mahulpali. There was a very small village towards the southeast corner of Mahulpali within a distance of about two kilometres called Rourkela. The literary meaning of ‘Rourkela’ according to the language of ‘Sadri’ is your home. It is also learnt that a tribal community called ‘Raulia’ had been living at the village since time immemorial. They were experts in tantric. According to their ancestral occupation the village was known as Rourkela. The present name of Rourkela is the outcome of the ancient tribal village of Rourkela.

The habituated area around the railway station of Rourkela was declared as an urban town in the year 1931. The census report of 1931 reveals that the number of population was 493. By the time a primary school, an office of the forester, a sub-post office, some tea stalls, restaurants some shops of liquor and opium were there around the station area. Gradually a train line was connected to Birmitrapur and Rourkela could avail a status of a junction and the number of railway employees also started increasing.

A Germany private undertaking called KRUPP and DEMAG Co. came forward to provide financial and technical help for the proposed steel plant at Rourkela. The technical experts of the company advised the Govt. of India as well as the Govt. of Orissa for acquiring more amount of land and attempt was made to fulfil their suggestions. As a result a further area of 32 square kilometres was acquired out of thirty-one revenue villages. Almost 13,000 people compromising 2,424 families had to lose their dwelling sides. Later further 11,000 acres of land was acquired out of thirty-one revenue villages for the construction of Mandira Dam. Still further land was acquired for the purpose of constructing railway lines to Hatia and Barsuan. Construction of Bondamunda Railway junction required further acquisition of land as a matter of fact further 20,000 people had to leave their homestead land.

Rourkela Steel Plant, Fertilizer Plant, Fertilizer Township, Steel Township and different sectors were constructed on the areas so acquired by the Govt. of Orissa. A Marshalling yard and a railway junction were established at Bondamunda over the land acquired by the Govt. The people who lost their home stead land and native places were resettled in resettlement localities like Jalda, Jhirpani and Bondamunda. The Govt. land beyond the river Koel was distributed among the people who lost their land for the purpose of steel plant. Thousands of technical personnel from West Germany came to Rourkela to extend their technical assistance. A different company all over the country with contractors and labourers flocked to Rourkela and were engages in constructing the steel plant. Consequently there arose a rush of workers and business community.