Agitators stall Posco ancillary work

The ancillary work of the Posco project was stalled once again at the project site when thousands of villagers opposed the chopping of trees on environmental grounds, pressing for fulfillment of their six-point charter of demands which among other things includes payment of daily wages to unemployed youths.

Thousands of youths as well as women of Nuagaon and Gadkujang panchayats led by youth leader Prasant Das blocked the road at Gadkujang to bar the entry of district and police officials.

The agitators alleged the officials were felling trees even though there was no sign of renewal of MoU with Posco India. They held that these trees had served as a protective cover during natural disasters in Nuagaon and Gadkujang panchayats.

Dhirendra Pallei, working president of the pro-Posco outfit United Action Committee (UAC) raised doubts on the fulfillment of demands following the recent transfer of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (central range).