Posco survey marred by protest

The long-awaited socio-economic survey in the site area of the Posco's 12 million tonne steel plant near Paradip today took off even as the United Action Committee formed by the villagers affected by the project lodged strong protests over of reported remarks of the executive director of the company regarding their demands.

UAC had earlier given its permission to the Jagatsinghpur district administration for start of survey work.

However, today it strongly protested the reported remarks of Posco-India executive director in a local TV channel expressing unwillingness to talk to UAC whose demands are "too tall to meet" and describing the land to be acquired by the company as "not fertile".

Due to the protests of UAC, sources said, survey work wound up early today after the survey team had visited only about a dozen houses in Noliasahi village.

UAC members also complained of violation of terms and conditions by the revenue officials during survey work on Tuesday. UAC member, Niravya Samantray said, "we had proposed to the district administration to include three members of UAC in each survey team to expedite the survey work. Though the district administration has formed 12 teams, not a single UAC member has been included in any of the teams".

Similarly, UAC had restricted that no land demarcation should be taken up during survey but the survey team has allegedly gone for land demarcation at Noliashai without the consultation of the committee, he added. In the morning, the survey team reached the Nuagaon village and opened Nuagaon revenue inspector office which closed since February 22, 2006, due to protests by the anti-Posco activists.

District Rehabilitation officer Surjeet Das , special land acquisition officer, Nrusingh Swain, Kujang, tahsildar Debasis Singh and Erasama BDO, Muralidhar Swain were present during survey. Special Land Acquisition Officer Swain said, the team has conducted survey in 12 houses at Noliashai.

Because of the protest of the villagers, he said, the administration has decided to include one UAC member in each team and survey work will continue tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in a clarification, Posco India said it was not averse to holding talks with UAC on the 29-point demand.

"Through press advertisement we have already stated that besides complying with the R&R policy of the state, our R&R plan will address issues of the people to be displaced from the government land, reasonable compensation to cultivators on the encroached land, fair price for the private land to be acquired, all land losing families and even the landless labourers".

For construction of the 12 million ton steel plant, about 25000 people will be engaged. Many more commercial activities will happen providing opportunities of employment and business to the local people, claimed U B Patnaik of Posco.

"Therefore employment is not an issue for the local people who are willing to work. We have plan to provide technical and skill upgradation training to the affected people of project area to enhance their employability", he added.