More trouble awaits South Korean steel major, POSCO in Orissa with the local people in Bonai in western Sundergarh district opposing the State governments attempt to lease out the iron ore mines in Khandadhar hills to the South Korean company.
The steel heavyweight is already facing locals’ wrath in coastal Jagatsinghpur district where it intends to set up a 12 million tonne steel plant as well as a port project.
The local people in Bonai have formed an organisation called Khandadhar Surakhya Samiti(KSS) to prevent any attempt by the state government to hand over the mines to POSCO.
The local residents are opposing the government’s attempt to lease out the iron ore mines for various reasons. Mainly, the locals feel that the Khandahar waterfall will vanish once mining activities began in the hills.
The waterfall is not only a major tourists’ spot of western Orissa but also provides for the livelihood of the local farmers throughout the year.
Secondly, the locals contend that the mining activities will displace the native tribals of Paudi Bhuyan. Besides, the hill is also a natural habitat to several rare animal species.
Significantly, the people’s agitation in Bonai is being fully backed by senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament(MP) from Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat, Joel Oram.
Despite being an ally, Mr Oram has left no stone unturned to criticise the BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on the issue. In fact, the senior BJP leader who had attended the KSS’s last rally had reportedly accused Mr Patnaik of behaving like an “agent” of MNCs.
