Work at Posco project site in Orissa stalled again

Work at the proposed Posco mega steel plant site was stalled again after 11 days on Wednesday, with a pro-Posco body saying it would not allow the company to continue work as the fate of the project in Orissa's Jagatsinghpur district was uncertain, while its demands also remained unfulfilled.

"Work had to be suspended as our teams were prevented from entering the site by villagers," Land Acquisition Officer Surjit Das said.

A large number of villagers, including women, went on a dharna near Gadakujang junction cutting off the road to the area where trees were being felled and the ground levelled.

Medha Patkar joins anti-Posco stir

"Around 1.13 lakh trees have been felled already, though a new MoU is yet to be signed. We cannot allow our trees to perish when the fate of the project is uncertain," Working President of the United Action Committee Dhirendra Palai said.

"Though UAC has been supporting the project, it is pointless to go on extending cooperation blindly in the absence of any MoU between the state government and Posco. There is uncertainty after the old MoU lapsed on June 21, 2010," he said.

Anti-posco stir continues in Orissa

Moreover, he said, the state government needed to meet the six demands, including increased compensation to land losers, jobs to the affected people and adoption of revised method for measurement of betel vines.

Job cards were given to 1,300 youth with a promise to pay Rs 6,000, each, per month, but neither work nor payment has been given, the UAC leader alleged.

"We will not allow work as the government is yet to take any concrete step to meet our six major demands," he said.

Jairam clears land grant to Posco

The land acquisition officer said that UAC's demand would be discussed soon with the revenue divisional commissioner.

Meanwhile, supporters of Bhitamati Surakshya Manch (BSM) were sitting on a dharna at Nuagaon while Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samittee (PPSS) was continuing protests at its stronghold near Gobindpur.