PPSS rejects Posco package, vows to intensify stir

Opponents of the proposed steel plant by South Korean major Posco today burnt copies of the new compensation package issued by the company and reaffirmed their resolve to continue the stir.

The Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) held a public meeting at Dhinkia, where the protestors vowed to intensify their stir till the South Korean steel major shifted its project from the present location near Paradip in Orissa.

PPSS president Abhay Sahoo also criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for not visiting the area to see for himself the plight of the affected people. Today’s rally follows Friday’s announcement of the compensation package for the project-affected people.

The Rs 400-crore compensation — part of its estimated project cost — is expected to benchmark industry relief in the country. The package will benefit over 2,000 encroachers and landless labourers at the Posco site.

Addressing the villagers today, the PPSS sympathisers said the declaration of the Posco compensation by the administration was anti-people, as the views of the local people’s representatives have not been taken into account while finalising it. The villagers reiterated they would not allow land acquisition for the project at any cost and thwart all attempt of the government to take away the land which is providing the villagers subsistence and livelihood.

The anti-land acquisition leaders clarified 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 the Paradip port.