41 betel vines demolished.
The pro-Posco villagers have cheered the decision of the Orissa government to suspend Dhinkia sarpanch Sisir Mohapatra for violating Orissa Gram Panchayat (OGP) Act-1964 and resorting to the fraudulent act of preparing and furnishing a fake palli sabha resolution.
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) which had recently granted final forest clearance for the Posco project had urged the Orissa government to take action against the sarpanch.
“If no action is taken forthwith, I believe that the state government’s arguments will be called into serious question”, Union minister for environment & forests Jairam Ramesh had said in the final order.
Fifty two families of Patana village under Dhinkia panchayat who were allegedly ostracized and humiliated by the sarpanch and the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) leader Abhya Sahu have expressed their satisfaction and joy after hearing of action against Mohapatra.
These families were allegedly driven away by PPSS activists at the behest of the Dhinkia sarpanch for supporting the Posco project. They have been living in pathetic condition at the Posco transit colony for the past four years.
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“It’s the victory of people waging movement in favour of Posco for the last five years. Leaving aside a few people, the pro-Posco villagers are jubilant. All the pro Posco families are celebrating”, said one pro-Posco leader.
“Our five-year movement and struggle in favour of the Posco project is now bearing fruit. After suspension of Mohapatra, the stronghold of PPSS has been weakened because its activists have lost their morality and so land acquisition process in Dhinkia and Gobindpur will be easier for administration”, said Nirvay Samantray, secretary, United Action Committee (UAC), a pro-Posco outfit.
On the other hand, Mohapatra has clarified that he has done everything for the interest of Dhinkia villagers as a sarpanch but there is no question of violation of OGP Act.
“I have not been involved in any criminal case and the police has lodged false cases against me. We are determined to intensify stir against the Posco project”, he said.
Meanwhile, the land acquisition for the mega steel project continued smoothly today at Nuagaon and Polang villages despite the suspension of the Dhinkia sarpanch.
Special Land Acquisition Officer Nrusingh Swain said, our teams have demolished 41 betel vines and also disbursed a compensation of Rs 44 lakh to the beneficiaries.