Posco land acquisition halts

Bowing to the protests of Posco opponents at the project site, the Jagatsinghpur district administration today withdrew police forces from Gobindpur village and temporarily suspended land procurement activity for the project after dismantling 14 betel vines.

The district administration, however, clarified that the pull out was only for the day and land acquisition would resume again in the presence of police forces. But land buying process looked uncertain to restart from Thursday with the police forces requesting for a day’s leave.

“The withdrawal of police forces was only for today. We will resume land acquisition as usual in the presence of forces. But land procurement may not take place tomorrow as the forces are experiencing fatigue and have sought leave for a day,” Satya Kumar Mallik, Jagatsinghpur collector told Business Standard.

“Today, we demolished 14 betel vines and disbursed a compensation of Rs 26 lakh,” he said.

Land acquisition for the Posco project that began last Sunday had to be halted for the day with the women and kids unrelenting in their agitation, demanding withdrawal of police forces.

Also, the visit of veteran CPI leader D Raja to the project site has seemingly halted the land procurement process. Raja will address a rally at Dhinkia tomorrow. CPI leaders had vowed to intensify the stir by resorting to hunger strike until police forces are withdrawn from the site.

Satyabrata Bhoi, district superintendent of police said, “Police have been withdrawn from Gobindpur village for today after the villagers requested for the same.”

Later, the district collector held a meeting with district unit president of CPI Sasibhusan Swain, Forward block leader Santosh Mitra, Manorama Khatua — women leader of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), an anti-Posco outfit and irate women in the presence of superintendent of police Satyabrata Bhoi. The district administration agreed to remove police forces for the day from the site after the talks.

Swain, however, warned that the hunger strike would continue till forces are withdrawn from the project site permanently.