PPSS rejects Posco package, vows to intensify stir

The Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS) today burnt the copies of Posco compensation package at Dhinkia even as the anti-land acquisition leaders congregated there to reaffirm their resolve to continue the stir against the company’s steel project.

PPSS organised ‘Maha Samelani’ at Dhinkia where the speakers vowed to intensify their stir till the South Korean steel major shifted its project from the present location near Paradip in Orissa.

This PPSS rally follows the announcement of the compensation package for the project affected persons two days back.

Addressing the villagers, the PPSS sympathizers said, the declaration of Posco package by the administration was anti-people as the views of the local people’s representatives have not been taken into account while finalizing it.

Out of six elected representatives of three affected panchyats, only two were present in the meeting of the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC). Even these two representatives threatened to boycott the RPDAC meeting but attended under pressure of the officials and ruling party leaders, they alleged.

The PPSS leaders said, the local people have been cultivating betel vine, cashew and other crops on the government and forest land since ages, so these lands should be registered in their name as per the provisions of the Forest Right Act.

The assembled villagers reiterated that they would not allow land acquisition for the project at any cost and thwart all attempt of the government to take away the government land which is providing the villagers subsistence and livelihood.

The anti-land acquisition leaders clarified that they were not opposing any industries including Posco per se, but the South Korean company must shift its project to a less fertile land where the damage to local people’s livelihood, flora and fauna and the possibility of pollution of water bodies was minimum.

They also opposed the proposal of Posco to build a captive port at Jatadhar mouth which they said would affect the business of Paradip port.