Dalit families oppose trench cutting work at Posco site

Protests by aggrieved Dalit families of Gobindpur and activists of Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS) on Friday hit trench cutting work being undertaken at the Posco project site for construction of boundary wall.

While hundreds of Dalit families of Gobindpur stalled trench cutting work, irate women and children under PPSS banner filled up the 100-metre trench with sand.

Nearly 150 Dalit families have been protesting boundary demarcation and trench cutting work. They alleged that the administration has demolished old betel vines of nearly 22 Dalit families in the name of new betel vines but nothing has been given towards compensation.

"The administration has forcibly acquired our lands without giving any compensation. So, we have sought the intervention of the Odisha High Court and Human Rights Commission," said Dulva Rout, a Dalit leader from Gobindpur.

Similarly, the activists of PPSS protested the alleged illegal construction of boundary wall of the Posco project, violating the directive of National Green Tribunal.

They alleged that the administration has acquired an additional 160 acres of land at Gobindpur as a result of which demarcation of boundary line for Posco project falls in Patana and Dhinkia villages which have been excluded from the project area.

While the state government planned to acquire only 700 acres, in addition to 2,000 acres already in its hand, to enable the South Korean company start first phase of work 2,700 acres, Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has allegedly acquired 160 acres over and above the required land. Official sources said, the excess land was acquired for the township.

Despite protest, the administration on Friday dismantled eight betel vines including one new betel vine by paying compensation of Rs 13.11 lakh and pulled down 392 trees paying compensation of Rs 4.45 lakh. The trench cutting work would now remain suspended for three days and will resume again on May 14.