Posco land acquisition continues despite stir

The Odisha government’s drive to acquire land for the Posco project continued for the third day, amidst protest by the project opponents. The Jagatsinghpur district administration on Tuesday demolished 20 betel vines on the encroached government land and disbursed Rs 25 lakh compensation to the vine owners.

The land acquisition process was halted briefly during the day at Gobindpur village as irate villagers including women and kids gheraoed the Jagatsinghpur district collector and superintendent of police (SP).

The protesters demanded halt to land acquisition work and withdrawal of police forces from the site.

Meanwhile, anti Posco leader Abhya Sahu and his colleague, Padma Charan Dalai sat on a hunger strike at Patanahat, demanding withdrawal of police forces and ending alleged forcible land acquisition at Gobindpur. The anti-Posco leader has also appealed to top national and state level social activists to lead the anti-displacement movement against Posco.

The district administration began land acquisition for the mega steel project on the third day in the presence of 400 police men.

Villagers including women and children led by Manorama Khatua, woman leader of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS)- an organisation spearheading anti-Posco agitation, assembled at Patanahat and vowed to protest land acquisition. Schools wore a deserted look as kids also participated in the stir.

Irate women pelted stones at the officials engaged in land acquisition, demanding withdrawal of police forces.

“Angry women and children gheraoed the district collector, SP and other officials for two hours at Gobindpur. Later, they lifted the stir after getting assurance on withdrawal of police forces. Our stir will continue till forcible land acquisition process is not stalled,” said Jayant Biswal, president of Bhitamati Surkhya Manch.

Satyabrata Bhoi, superintendent of police said, “Irate people manhandled the police personnel during demonstration. We have completed the demolition of betel vines today peacefully and the process will continue.” Meanwhile, a team of BJP led by state vice-president Ashok Sahu rushed to the spot and expressed solidarity with the Posco protesters.

“The MoU (memorandum of understanding) signed with the Posco is yet to be renewed. Similarly, a case relating to environment is pending with the National Green Tribunal for disposal. The state government’s hurry without statutory clearances smacks of its unholy alliance with the company,” Sahu alleged.