Patnaik may call all-party meeting on Posco

The Orissa government is likely to call an all-party meeting soon for a consensus on the Posco project, which is facing stiff opposition from the local villagers over land acquisition and displacement issues.

"We are examining a proposal to convene an all-party meeting on Posco," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, after his return from New Delhi today.

He said "everybody (the Centre and the state government)" was interested in the implementation of the project as it involved the largest single FDI inflow "" Rs 51,000 crore "" in the country.

Stating that the project was already delayed, he said work on it would gain momentum with support from all quarters.

Asked if the state government would talk with the people affected by the project, Patnaik said the district administration of Jagatsinghpur, under whose jurisdiction the project fell, was already in talks with the aggrieved. "I am open for talks to diffuse any tension," he added.

He also indicated that Posco may not be asked to shift the site of the project in view of the protests as "the South Korean steel major has come to Orissa to set up a shore-based steel plant".

Patnaik said he had sought the help of the Centre for smooth implementation of the project. "I told the prime minister (Manmohan Singh) that the Centre should see that the project comes through," he said.

In a broadside against the state Congress, which had openly extended support to the anti-Posco agitators, the chief minister charged some of the parties with double standards. "I have drawn the attention of the prime minister to this," he added.

It may be noted that in meeting on the Posco project in New Delhi yesterday, Patnaik had impressed upon the prime minister that it was important for the Posco project to get support from all political parties in the state.

The Centre had asked the Orissa government to expedite the process of land acquisition for Posco. However, the Centre clarified that Posco might have to negotiate with those whose land the company would acquire, if the company wanted a special economic zone (SEZ) status.

The Centre also agreed to consider the prospecting licence (PL) application for Khandadhar mines recommended by the Orissa government in favour of Posco.

The matter is now pending with the Ministry of Mines.

Besides Posco, other big-ticket investments such as TISCO, L&T-Dubal and AES were also discussed at the meeting. It was agreed that all the bottlenecks facing such large investments through FDI etc should be removed by mutual cooperation between the Centre and the state government.

Various infrastructure projects were also discussed with the Centre promising full support for their early sanction, said a senior official.