Work at Posco steel plant site resumes

PARADIP: Construction and ancillary works at the proposed Posco steel plant site in Jagatsinghpur district resumed on Saturday after a week following talks between the district administration and local residents. Work had come to a halt since July 16 after a face-off between the police and the locals at Mathasahi in Nuagaon panchayat in which five women were injured. ADM Saroj Kanta Chaudhury said the district administration had promised the villagers to conduct rehabilitation and periphery development advisory committee (RPDAC) meeting on August 24 to fulfil their demands. Following this, they agreed to allow felling of trees and other civil works.STRATEGY CHANGE: Sources said in a change of strategy, the district administration decided to negotiate with individual groups who are guarding the forests, to facilitate Posco work. There are seven groups altogether - five at Nuagaon and two in Gadakujang panchayats - guarding nearby forests to prevent felling of trees. Five of the seven groups - known to have allegiance to pro-Posco United Action Committee (UAC) - have extended their support to the district administration. The administration held successful discussion with one of the major groups - Dadhibaman group at Nuagaon panchayat area - on Friday.  As many as 4,500 trees were axed and the officials measured 40 acres of prawn gheris in Nuagaon area. A compensation of ` 2 lakh per acre would be provided to the owners of the gheris. Trenching work for construction of boundary walls was also taken up. Similarly, construction work was taken up at Polang village under Gadakujang panchayat. Land of one Ratnakar Behera was  acquired and ` 18 lakh paid as compensation to him. Though the work was carried out peacefully, Nuagaon villagers resented deployment of one platoon of police force in the area. Earlier, the  administration had assured them not to deploy any force.Special Land Acquisition Officer Nrusingh Swain clarified that no police forces were used for felling trees or any other construction work for the Posco project, but one platoon force was deployed to avoid any untoward situation. SP S Debdatta Singh also said police deployment was made at the site to maintain law and order during felling of trees and construction work. “We do not intend to harass the villagers,” he added. Nuagaon is an important junction as one can enter Gobindpur, part of the proposed plant site, only after crossing through the area.