Anti-Posco agitators take out rallies in Paradip

Anti-Posco agitators today observed a 'black day' and took out rallies here demanding scrapping of the Rs 52,000 crore project.

The Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) brought out separate rallies from Dhinkia, Gobindpur and Nuagaon villages which culminated at a public meeting at Patana village.

Wearing black badges and carrying placards and flags with anti-Posco slogans, the agitators said though they have allowed socio-economic and forest land survey at the project site, establishment of the plant by the South Korean steel major would be opposed vehemently.

"Our consent for undertaking survey work does not mean we favour setting up of the steel plant," said a senior leader of PPSS.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should visit the area to see for himself how people eke out their livelihood from the fertile land, betel vines and plantations, the agitators said, adding that the government should not renew the MoU with Posco, which lapsed yesterday.

The project should be scrapped for the interest of the people who depend on the fertile land for their livelihood.