Posco survey may start again

The Jagatsinghpur district administration has decided to restart the suspended socio economic survey for the Posco project near Paradip from Tuesday.

This follows softening of stand by the villagers of Gadakujang panchyat on continuation of the survey.

According to sources, members of United Action Committee (UAC), formed by the villagers in the Posco project affected area, the concerned sarpanch and others in a meeting with the residents of Gadakujang panchyat have succeeded in convincing the villagers about the rehabilitation package announced by the South Korean steel major.

Out of 29 demands raised by the villagers, the rehabilitation package of Posco has taken care of 28 demands like providing unemployment allowance, allotment of ten decimal land and house in the rehabilitation colony, compensation and assistance to all displaced families, construction of a fishing jetty, providing boats to fishermen, and others such benefits.

Besides, betel vine workers who will be rendered jobless after dismantling of betel vines will be paid reasonable amount of unemployment allowance for a period of six months.

However, the one of the demands relating to valuation of lands like Rs 25 lakh for forest land and Rs 40 lakh for private land is yet to be addressed.

The district administration clarified that valuation of land can not be done unless survey and land demarcation work are competed in the Posco site area.

Hence, the administration had sought the cooperation of villagers and members of UAC to expedite survey work.

It may be noted the socio-economic survey in the Posco site area was suspended after only two days last month due to protest of the villagers who wanted to be convinced about the rehabilitation package before allowing the survey to go on.

Nuagaon sarpanch Bhaskar Swain informed that panchayat has conducted its 'gramasabha' on Monday to seek the cooperation of the villagers for survey work.

Meanwhile, the project opponents led by Rastryia Yuba Sangthan and Nab Nirman Samiti have threatened to protest during survey work tomorrow.