Anti-Posco activists observe Black Day

The activists threaten to intensify stir until the project is officially scrapped

With the fate of Posco's proposed mega steel plant in Odisha still hanging in balance, the anti-Posco activists today observed 'Black Day' at the project site coinciding with the completion of 10 years of signing of MoU between the state government and the South Korean steel major.

The persistent agitation of the local villagers, protesting land acquisition for the 12 billion dollar project billed as the largest FDI in the country, is one of the major causes for delay in its implementation.

The anti-Posco activists led by their leader, Abhya Sahoo today observed 'Black Day' at Patana village in the site area. They threatened to intensify their stir until the Posco project is officially scrapped. They also demanded withdrawal of all criminal cases filed against the activists and villagers terming them as false and fabricated.

Waving black flags and wearing black ribbons round their wrists and foreheads, the villagers, under the banner of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) staged rallies and demonstration. The group has been observing June 22 as 'Black Day' every year since the state signed a pact with Posco for the 12 million tonne per annum capacity steel plant on June 22, 2005. It may be noted the prospect of Posco setting up of the plant has been clouded with the Centre asking the company to participate in auction to get iron ore mining lease. Posco, which had signed the MoU with the Odisha government with the hope of getting the lease on preferential route is reportedly unwilling to take part in the auction.

The uncertain situation has even made the project supporters at the site feel dejected. The secretary of United Action Committee, a pro-Posco outfit, Nirvay Samantray said, "All the people who had given their land and betel vine for the Posco project are yet to get job opportunity, compensation and other benefits. They feel harassed because there is no possibility of establishment of this project in our locality. Villagers have been betrayed and humiliated after handing over of land and vines."