Six parties propose talks with Naveen on Posco

Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik today said, he will consider the proposal of six political parties including CPI, CPI (M) and Forward Bloc for discussion to resolve the issues pertaining to setting up of a mega steel plant by South Korean steel major Posco in the state.

“I am yet to see this proposal and will consider when it comes”, he told the reporters here. It may be noted leaders of six political parties including CPI, CPI (M), Forward Bloc, Samajwadi Party and RJD- all with limited support base in the state- today met here and decided to appraoch chief minister for discussion on the Posco issue.

The solution to the Posco imbroglio should be thrashed out through political intervention instead of administrative actions, they pointed out.

Posco, which proposed to set up a 12 million tonne steel plant near Paradip in Orissa, is unable to make any progress on the project even after five years of signing the MoU due to stiff opposition of locals backed by left leaning groups.

The state government has recently intensified its efforts to acquire land for the project and initiated steps to conduct socio-economic survey in the site area with the help of police force.

In a parallel move, it is trying to reach out to the Posco opponents by engaging them in discussions at different levels. On the request of the chief minister, local CPI MP, Bibhu Prasad Tarai recently mediated in a discussion between the representatives of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, the organization spearheading agitation against the project, and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Range) of the state government. However, the talks failed with the PPSS representatives insisting on shifting of the project out of the present location.