The efforts of Posco India to generate public support for its integrated steel project near Paradeep have aroused the wrath of the anti-Posco activists.
The anti-Posco activists under the Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS) have burnt the letters written by a senior Posco official to the local opinion leaders in the project site area. SN Singh, deputy general manager of Posco India, had sent a four-page letter to the sarpanch and Panchayat Samiti member of Dhinkia, anti-Posco leaders as well as other elected representatives from the region to generate public support for the Posco project. As postal services have been affected in Dhinkia for the past two years, the letters were sent by the Posco official through a messenger 15 days back, said Sisir Mohapatra, sarpanch of Dhinkia panchyat and secretary, PPSS. However, this move by the Posco official has irked the anti-Posco activists who have threatened to intensify their stir against the project.
Meanwhile, the district rehabilitation officer, Surjeet Dash, claimed that the district administration is ignorant of any such letter. The decision of the Posco officials to send a letter without the knowledge of administration would affect the prospect of the project and also create law and order problems in the project site area, he added.
The letter says that a total of 1716 labourers engaged in betel vines and prawn gheries would be affected by the Posco's proposed steel plant. It further depicted how the condition of these labourers was very pathetic as they were getting a very meagre amount for their labour. The letter said, Posco would provide employment opportunities for these labourers.
Referring to the study conducted by the agriculture scientists, it warned that the land in the Posco site area would not be conducive for the cultivation of betel crop in future.
Allaying concerns of environmental pollution, Posco DGM SN Singh, in his letter, said that the Posco steel plant would make use of Finex technology and so there is no need to be worried about the project's environmental impact. The letter, which is silent on the issues of Posco's captive port and the company's rehabilitation package, states that the South Korean steel major would provide facilities like drinking water, electricity, roads and communication and community centres for the people.
