Posco signs pact with OPTCL to draw power

After receiving Stage –II clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for its 12 million tonne steel plant in Orissa, Posco-India has initiated various activities including infrastructure development to expedite the project work.

As a part of this process, the company has signed an agreement with Orissa Power Transmission Company Ltd (OPTCL) to receive 24 MW power. This bilateral agreement, supposed to have been signed with OPTCL in 2007, was delayed because of problems surrounding the project. The power will be utilized by Posco-India for its construction activities at the plant site near Paradip.

After making detail design and getting approval from OPTCL, the company will commence the tower construction work to draw this power and the power supply will be operational from March 2012, a company release said.

Meanwhile, CPI today threatened to unite all sections of the people and intensify their stir against Posco steel project. The district unit of CPI, Jagatsinghpur , today held demonstrations and mass rally in front of collectorate to protest against the project.

CPI leaders strongly criticized the agriculture minister Damodar Rout for initiating Posco project and ridiculed chief minister Naveen Pattnaik’s understanding of agriculture, betel vine cultivation and livelihood of farmers of this area. They criticized Pattnaik for selling fertile land and minerals to the South Korean company at through-away price. They condemned administration and police officials for deployment police forces in proposed site.

However, a section of the district CPI leaders including local MP Bibhuprasad Tarai were conspicuous by their absence at the meeting and some of them have even expressed their support in favour of Posco project.