The state government will set the ball rolling for acquisition of additional 700 acres of land for the Posco steel mill proposed near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district after due consultation with affected locals.
“The district administration will hold talks with the locals for acquisition of additional land sought by Posco,” Chief Secretary B K Patnaik said. The state government’s assurance on takeover of additional land for the country's biggest FDI project comes a day after South Korean ambassador to India Kim Joong-Keun hinted Posco would resume construction activity after getting the additional land.
The envoy also said the steel maker was prepared to leave aside the disturbed area at the project site if the locals were unwilling to cede land. It may be noted that locals of Dhinkia village, considered to be epicentre of anti-Posco movement, are vehemently opposing land acquisition for the project. The state government had even decided against acquiring private land in Dhinkia for the project.
The Posco plant would need 4,004 acres of land in all of which 2,000 acres had been acquired. During his Odisha visit, Joong-Keun raised concern over the tardy pace of project implementation but said, he hoped the project would come up at the identified palce.