Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik has decided to visit the trouble-torn site of Posco’s 12 million tonne steel project near Paradip soon to take stock of the ground realities.
During his visit Patnaik will assess the number of people whose livelihood will be affected by the project and also the scale of displacement which the project is likely to bring about. However, the date of his visit is yet to be finalized.
It may be noted, loss of livelihood and displacement are two major issues highlighted by the project opponents to prop up agitation stalling land acquisition for the project in the last five years since signing of the MoU with the South Korean steel major in June, 2005.
The chief minister’s decision follows a request made by the members of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the organization spearheading anti-Posco movement in the site area. Patnaik met PPSS leaders, Abhay Sahoo, Prakash Jena, Prashant Barik and CPI leader Abani Baral in the presence of local MP, Bibhu Tarai here today.
The chief minister, who met the anti-Posco leaders for the first since the launching of their agitation five years back, will be making his maiden visit to the Posco site.CPI leader Abani Baral termed the discussion with chief minister as the first break-through on the Posco project. Stating that the project has made no headway for the last five years, he said, “I am confident that the chief minister will agree for shifting of the site of the project after visiting the area”.
“The chief minister has assured us that he will announce an early date for visiting the Posco site and we will have the next round of discussions with him after his visit. The next round of talks is likely to be held this month”.
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Terming the discussion as fruitful, PPSS president, Abhay Sahoo said, “The chief minister should visit the Posco site so that he is convinced of the impact of the project on the livelihood of the people. PPSS has agreed to allow the socio-economic survey for the project in the site area peacefully without the presence of police forces”.PPSS had been stiffly opposing the socio-economic survey and had erected barricades around Dhinkia and Gobindpur, two of their pet villages in the site, preventing entry of officials and police to conduct the process.
Emerging from the talks, chief minister Patnaik said, “certain members of PPSS met me today and they have agreed to the continuation of the Posco survey work peacefully at the area. They have requested me to visit the area. Let the survey work be completed and I will choose an appropriate date for visiting the Posco site. Before visiting the site I will also talk to other local groups in Bhubaneswar”.
Asked if he will consider the demand of PPSS for shifting of the project site, Patnaik said, “No such demand relating to shifting of the project site came up for discussion”.
Sahoo, however, pointed out, “PPSS has been opposing the Posco project at Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadkujang panchayat and our demand for site shifting remains non-negotiable”.