Orissa to seek public opinion for Posco project

Orissa government today decided to seek public opinion on Posco-India's proposed mega steel plant after failing to implement South Korean steel major's Rs 51,000 crore project near Paradip due to local opposition, official sources said.

The decision to seek public opinion in next two months was taken at a review meeting by Chief Minister's Office (CMO) here.

B K Patnaik, Principal secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, reviewed Posco-India's progress in presence of the DGP, IG - central range, revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), central division and collector and SP of Jagatsinghpur district.

Though the steel major signed an MoU with the state government on June 22, 2005, it failed to acquire an inch of land for the purpose due to opposition from local people.

As the state government was pursuing a policy to undertake peaceful industrialisation, the CMO asked the DGP and the IG, CR to prepare a strategy to implement the project without much violence.

"We discussed law and order situation in Dhinkia gram panchayat near Paradip where Posco-India proposed to set up 12 MTPA greenfield steel mill," DGP Manmohan Praharaj told reporters after the meeting.

The CMO also asked the revenue administration to initiate dialogue with the local people before beginning land acquisition process for the purpose, official sources said.

"Not only Posco's proposed plant site area, discussion also centred around law and order in Paradip where major industries like Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)'s refinery and Essar Steel's plant are coming up," DGP said.

While the state government was all set to start land acquisition process for Posco project, detention of four company officials two days ago aggravated the situation.

"There is no police case regarding detention of four Posco officials," the DGP said additional steps would be taken to maintain overall law and order in Paradip area.

Meanwhile, CPI-backed Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) has announced to oppose the project while the Left party's state secretary Dibakar Nayak demanded shifting of the project from fertile Dhinkia.