Posco land acquisition may be deferred by a week

The start of land acquisition for the South Korean steel major Posco's $12 billion project near Paradip, scheduled on May 18, may be deferred due to non-cooperation of the activists of United Action Committee (UAC), non availability of temporary shed to shelter police forces and severe heat wave.

Keeping in view the May 18 deadline, the Jagatsinghpur district administration had chalked out elaborate strategies and targeted to demolish nearly 40 betel vines per day.

Nearly fifty officials including revenue department staff were to be engaged for demolition of betel vines. But, sources said, the operation is likely to be deferred by a week due to intense heat wave and acute scarcity of drinking water in the locality.

The district administration has requisitioned nearly 20 platoons of police force, including five platoons of women force, to be deployed at Gadkujnaga, Nuagaon, Gobindpur, Balitutha, Trilochanpur, and other places in and around Posco project site to maintain peace during land acquisition.

Nearly ten to twelve platoons of police force have reached Kujang, about 15 kms from the Posco site. But they are yet to be deployed in Gadkujang panchayat, where land acquisition was to start on May 18, due to non-availability of temporary shed to shelter them.

The anti-Posco activists, who have been vehemently opposing the project, have refused to give shelter to the police force in their unused houses.