Confrontation looms large as the
Jagatsinghpur district administration on Wednesday resumed land acquisition work for South Korean steel major Posco's 12 million tonne steel plant near Paradip in Orissa.
Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the organisation spearheading the movement against the project, is preparing for a last-ditch battle with the police as the authorities continue dismantling betel vines under heavy police presence amid stiff resistance by villagers.
The residents of Gobindpur village under Dhinkia panchayat, the epicentre of
the anti-Posco movement, held demonstrations even as officials, accompanied by policemen, demolished betel vines which sustain the economy of the area. Sources said 35 betel vine yards were dismantled.
PROJECT STATUS
- Jagatsinghpur district administration officials resumed land acquisition work for Posco's 12 million tonne steel plant near Paradip
- Residents of Gobindpur village, the epicentre of anti-Posco movement, held demonstrations to stop the work
- The administration claimed to have earlier acquired about 2,000 acres of land
- The government needs to acquire another 700 acres for the project
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PPSS general secretary Shishir Mohapatra warned policemen against the use of force. "They had used lathis on our people a day ago. We are ready to face state violence but will not give up," Mohapatra said.
On Monday,
the land acquisition drive had to be suspended following massive protests. There were demonstration and rallies in Dhinkia and Gobindpur led by CPI leader Narayan Reddy. Sensing a law and order problem, the district administration decided not to proceed with the work.
Sources said the state government was keen to complete the process before July 10, when police force would have to be moved to Puri for the Rath Yatra.
"We have already acquired over 2,000 acres and need another 700 acres. We hope to acquire the remaining land in the next few days," said an official.
Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick said the government would like the work to be completed without any law and order problem. However, in villages under Dhinkia panchayat, the people are determined to put up a strong fight.
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