Talks with anti-Posco group fail

The second-round discussions between Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the organisation spearheading the anti-Posco agitation and Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Central Range of the Orissa government to resolve the issues pertaining to the South Korean giant’s steel project in the state have failed with the PPSS representatives insisting on not allowing the company to acquire land at any cost.

Five-member PPSS team led by CPI leader Abani Baral attended the meeting at RDC office, Cuttack in the presence of local MP, Bibhuprasad Tarai.

They demanded shifting of the Posco project out of its present location and also stoppage of the ongoing socio-economic survey for the project in the site villages.

They claimed that thousands of people will lose their land and livelihood for the project which will bring in irreparable loss to flora and fauna besides polluting the water bodies.

PPSS leaders said, they have been demanding stoppage of survey work, but the administration has ignored their pleas.

They complained about the use of police force and filing false cases against peaceful protestors on 15 May at Balitutha and on 1 June at Nuagaon.