In a significant turn of events, the United Action Committee (UAC) formed by the villagers affected by Posco's steel project near Paradip has decided to climb down on its demand for "exorbitant" compensation for land, paving the way for restart of the stalled socio-economic survey of the area. | |
| The committee, which is predominantly pro-Posco unlike the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, had been blocking the survey demanding fulfillment of its 29 demands, including payment of Rs 40 lakh per acre for private land and Rs 25 lakh per acre for encroached government land. |
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| This was besides a job for one person from each affected family. The price sought for land, particularly the government land, was termed as "exorbitant" by the district administration and Posco. |
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| The committee, in talks in the run-up to its tomorrow's meeting with the Posco representatives and the administration, has decided to be flexible over the land price. However, it will stick to its demand for a job for one person in each affected family, sources say. |
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| This development is likely to resolve the standoff between the villagers on one side and the district administration and Posco on the other. |
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| The committee first gave its consent for the socio-economic survey, but later demanded the announcement of the rehabilitation package and stalled the survey. |
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| For tomorrow's meeting, the district administration, on the request of the nodal officer for the project, has served a notice on the committee to attend the meeting. The committee members have agreed to attend. |
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| The administration is in a hurry to complete the survey as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is expected to lay the foundation stone of the project on April 1 |
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| Committee Member Niravya Samantray said they conducted its preparatory meeting at Nuagaon village today. "The villagers have agreed to cooperate in the survey work", he added. |
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