Peeved pro-Posco villagers to step up stir despite green nod

Even after securing environment clearance for its mega steel mill, Posco faces the opposition at the ground level as some hitherto supporters of the project have decided to protest the project over non-fulfilment of their demands.

Villagers of Gadakujang, one of the affected villages, have vowed to intensify their stir against Posco plant even though they welcomed the revalidation of environment clearance granted to the project.

"The project affected villagers are happy over revalidation of the environmental clearance granted to the company.

But, they are unhappy over the activities of Posco officials and the district administration to expedite project related work without the consent of the villagers. The demands of the affected villagers have also been ignored. The situation may lead to clashes between the projects contractors and the villagers in future”, warned Nirvaya Samantray, secretary of United Action Committee (UAC), a pro-Posco outfit.

The situation has worsened at the Gadakujang panchayat where villagers of Gadkujang, Noliashai, Polang, Bhuiyanpal have united themselves to protest Posco project work. Boundary wall construction for the plant has been stalled at this panchayat with the villagers stiffly opposing it, demanding fulfilment of their demands, which included award of contract work to locals, employment opportunity for each displaced family, hike in rate of private land and compensation to betel vine labourers.

On the contrary, there is no protest at Nuagaon village, another project affected village.

"The environment clearance has given us inspiration. Local villagers have resumed construction of the boundary wall”, said Saumendra Nayak, former panchayat samiti member of Nuagaon, who is monitoring the boundary wall work.

A senior Posco India official said, the revalidation of environment clearance would help lift restrictions imposed on felling of trees at the project site by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).