Realising that the Land Acquisition Bill, already cleared by the Union Cabinet, would put land procurement for big-ticket industrial projects in a quandary, the Odisha government has resumed land acquisition for the showpiece Posco project at a frenzied pace.
In November 2011, land acquisition for the mega steel project ground to a halt after clashes broke out over the construction of a coastal corridor. With land acquisition slated to turn challenging after the new Bill is passed (since it would need the consent of at least 80 per cent of the affected people), experts believe at this stage, the state government cannot afford to buy time.
Land acquisition for South Korean company Poscos 12-million-tonne steel facility near Paradip resumed on Sunday, with the demolition of 15 betel vineyards, amid clashes between protestors and the police. Today, 10 more vineyards on encroached government land were pulled down. Since yesterday, compensation of Rs 45 lakh has been disbursed to the affected farmers.
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Today, procurement activity was nearly hassle-free, with the Jagatsinghpur district administration claiming it resolved misunderstandings of the people through dialogue. However, the drive to demolish betel vineyards on encroached government land at the Posco site was carried out amid tight security, with 14 police platoons deployed to prevent any untoward situation.
We had a fruitful dialogue with the people of Gobindpur, and this is a positive sign. Land acquisition was, by and large, peaceful. The project-affected villagers have submitted a memorandum, listing their demands. This would be discussed at the meeting of the Rehabilitation & Periphery Development Advisory Committee. Demands beyond our limitations would be placed before the highest level, said Satya Kumar Mallik, Jagatsinghpur collector.
Satyabrata Bhoi, superintendent of police, said, Todays breakthrough was the open interaction we held with Gobindpur villagers. We hope the land acquisition process is hastened with their cooperation.
Gobindpur, once considered a stronghold of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), later saw substantial support for the project, thanks to internal wrangling within the PPSS.
Land acquisition for the Posco project has been stuck in a quagmire of delays and protests for about seven years, long enough to make the company board restless. Of late, Posco has dominated all bilateral talks between India and South Korea, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is understood to be personally monitoring the progress of the project.
Odishas sense of immediacy also stems from the ensuing Budget session of Parliament beginning February 14, as well as the 2014 general elections.
Poscos steel plant would need 4,004 acres. Though the state government has acquired 2,000 acres, only 548 have been leased out to the company. Posco has requested initially, it be provided 2,700 acres for starting the construction on an eight-million-tonne-per annum (mtpa) capacity plant. Later, it plans to expand the capacity to 12 mtpa.
