Four officials of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) and one employee of Posco India were detained by the villagers of Balishai under Nuagaon panchyat for about three hours today when they had gone there for demarcation of the boundary for the Posco steel project.
They were released unharmed after giving a written commitment that they would not enter the area again without prior intimation.
"Their vehicle was stopped by locals, mostly women, as it entered Balishai under Nuagaon panchayat for demarcation of the project boundary through Global Positioning system without accompaniment of police personnel and all the five occupants, including the four IDCO officials and one liaison officer of Posco were held captive," said the police sources.
The detained officials were identified as B.K. Bhuyian, Kamalakant Das, Bishnu Pal, Alok Bag of IDCO and Basant Jena of Posco.
Meanwhile, noted journalist cum Magsaysay Award winner Palagummi Sainath expressed his solidarity with the anti-Posco villagers who have been staging dharna at Gobindpur protesting forcible land acquisition for the Posco project. Sainath, during his two day stay at Gobindpur, interacted with local villagers.
Despite agitation, the administration continued with felling of trees, measurement of earth structure and identification of betel vine labourers in Noliashai village under Gadakujang panchayat with the cooperation of villagers.
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Similarly, the construction of boundary wall and rehabilitation colony, which was halted yesterday due to heavy rain, has resumed at Polang village of Gadakujang.
Twelve teams have been pressed by the district administration to carry on these jobs.
Special Land Acquisition Officer, Nrusingh Swain said, nearly 2700 trees were cu down at Noliashai and compensation Rs 1.66 lakh disbursed to Sanghai village forest committee.