UAC agrees for talks with administration on Posco rehab package

The process of finalization of Posco's compensation and rehabilitation package, which was marred by protests, has now moved a step forward with the United Action Committee, a pressure group comprising the people of the local community, finally giving its consent to hold talks with the district administration on the issue.

Responding to the request of the district administration, UAC on Thursday sent a message to the administration evincing its willingness to resume talks on the finalization of Posco's compensation and rehabilitation package.

The committee has invited the officials of the district administration to hold talks with it at the Gadkujang panchayat conference hall on April 9. Nirvaya Samantray, secretary, UAC said, “We have drawn up a plan to hold talks with the officials of the district administration at the Gadkujang panchyat conference hall on April 9 at 10 am. The date, time and venue of the meeting have been communicated to the district administration.”

Sources said, the district administration had shown its interest to start discussions with the Posco affected villagers in their respective villages to finalise the rehabilitation package.

Narayan Jena, the Jagatsinghpur district collector had sought the intervention of the UAC activists to finalize the Posco rehabilitation package and the district administration had sent a letter to UAC in this regard. UAC, known for its pro-Posco stance, had of late vented his dissatisfaction over the move of the district administration and the company authorities to finalize the rehabilitation package without the consent of the affected villagers.

The organization had also vowed to oppose the project till their 29-point charter of demands is fulfilled.