Posco project: 470 families likely to be displaced

A day after initiating land acquisition process for Posco-India's mega steel plant project near Paradip, the Orissa government today said 470 families could face displacement due to the mega plant.

"The Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) had already finalised a compensation package for the affected families," Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suryanarayan Patra informed the state Assembly.

The steel major required 4004 acre for the Rs 51,000 crore project near Paradip which failed to take off for five years due to opposition by the local people.

Besides displacement of 470 families, the South Korean steel major's project required to demolish 1877 betel vines and 31 prawn ponds located in the three gram panchayat areas of Dhinkia, Gada Kujang and Nuagaon, the minister said.

A compensation of Rs 17 lakh per acre of agricultural land was agreed to be given to betel vine growers, who would also be provided with unemployment allowance of Rs 2250 per month in the event the company failing to provide them with employment, he added.