Construction of road to Posco site resumes after 90 days

Construction work of a coastal road, aimed at linking the proposed Posco project site in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district, resumed today after remaining suspended for over 90 days due to protest by the people.

Construction work for the 10-km coastal road from Mahal near IOCL refinery up to the proposed Posco site is in progress with the help of hi-tech machines and equipment, officials of the agency undertaking the work, said today.

"The contractor has got the work order for undertaking the road project from IIDCO (Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa)", Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Paradip, Surjeet Das said.

The district administration, he said has little role in the coastal road construction work.

After facing resistance from the people, particularly from Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the contractor could not go ahead with the project and had to suspend the work on September 26, official sources said.

The agitation by PPSS was continuing at Gobindpur under the leadership of former CPI MLA N Narayan Reddy in the absence of its leader Abhay Sahoo who was jailed last month.

Even as PPSS activists were determined to oppose removal of betel vines and acquisition of these land in Dhinikia- Gobindpur area, the district administration was mobilising police force in the area for the purpose.

"We have got some applications from people in Dhinkia and Gobindpur area for removal of betel vines and hand over of the land. We will do it as soon as possible", Das said.