Work on Posco project stalled for fourth day

Work on Posco project at the project affected villages of Nuagaon and Gadakujang was stalled for the fourth consecutive day due to agitation at two important junctions.

The agitators have been staging dharna at Mathsahi, the boundary of Nuagaon panchayat and Balisahi, the entry point to Nuagaon and Dhinkia panchayats. These protesters pressed for the fulfillment of their demands including enhanced compensation to land losers.

Meanwhile, the district officials are busy convincing the villagers, elected representatives, activists of United Action Committee (UAC) and village forest committees to allow the administration to resume work on the project at Nuagaon.

Murlidhar Swain, block development officer, Erasama said, “We are holding talks with chief of village forest committees in a phased manner. After taking their views, we propose to meet the villagers in respective villages to convince them. This process will continue for four to five days and the administration has planned to resume Posco ancillary and construction work from Monday after taking the consent of villagers.

On the other hand, hundreds of women under the banner of Bhita Mati Surakhya Manch staged a dhrana to protest Posco project and called upon the women and other villagers not to cooperate with the district administration.