Acquisition of land for Posco continues

Land acquisition for the multi-crore Posco steel plant continued in Odisha’s coastal Jagatsinghpur district for third consecutive day on Tuesday even as anti-project groups and villagers held a protest meeting and rally at Patana, one of the affected villages, defying the prohibitory order imposed by the district administration.

There was, however, no report of any violence either during the land acquisition process or at the protest meeting.

Nearly 12 platoons of armed police are currently deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

Jagatsinghpur district administration sources said during the land acquisition on Tuesday, 11 betel plantations were demolished and farmers paid compensation of around Rs 14 lakh.

During the last three days of acquisition, 38 betel plantations have been demolished and the land taken over by the administration.

According to a report reaching the state headquarters late on Tuesday evening, at the rally organised by anti-Posco outfit  ‘Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti’ (PPSS), leaders of different mass movements across the state lashed out at the Naveen Patnaik government for giving priority to the interests of industrial houses over people’s interests.

“The government seems to be determined to go for industrialisation over the dead body of the common people,” the speakers thundered at the rally which was also attended by representatives of five political parties including Left parties.