Land acquisition for Posco plant for second day

Land acquisition for the Rs 52,000 crore Posco steel plant was undertaken for the second day today amidst failed attempts by the anti-project supporters to prevent operations.
"The land acquisition work is continuing peacefully...Land acquisition involving removal of betel vines has almost reached the final stage. The process continued peacefully for the second day at Gobindpur village with the cooperation of people," district Collector S K Mallick said.
Altogether 12 betel vines were pulled down during the day and Rs 18 lakh was paid to the owners through cheques.
A total 300 trees were also felled during the day and payments would be made after valuation of the trees done by officials of horticulture department.

Three teams were engaged in the exercise. While two teams were engaged to dismantle betel vines, another conducted a survey to identify trees which needed to be cut as part of the land acquisition process, he said.
As the operation continued, a group of opponents made a vain bid to prevent the workers at Gobindpur area and asked policemen to leave the place following which arguments ensued.

Pro-Posco villagers came forward and virtually forced the opponents to retreat towards Patna village to chalk their future strategy.
Angry over resumption of land acquisition, anti-Posco activists have planned to oppose the process.

"The collector says that demolition of betel vines has reached the final stage. We want to tell the administration that our fight has also reached the final stage and we will do whatever is possible to oust Posco," said a leader of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, which is spearheading the agitation against the mega steel project.