Posco to start work without displacement

Uncertain of being given prospecting licence for Khandadhar iron ore mine, Posco-India has decided to go ahead with construction without displacing anyone from its Rs 52,000-crore steel plant site near Paradip.

The South Korean steel major, which had sought 4,004 acre to set up its 12 mtpa greenfield steel unit, would not wait long. "We will start construction work at the plant site early next year with whatever land is available with us," Soung Sik Cho, CMD, Posco-India said.

"We are planning to start real construction over 493 acre at the plant site, preparatory work for which will start from next month," Cho said.

Cho, who met Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last evening, told reporters that the company had already received 193 acre of land for the purpose. "Orissa government has assured to hand over another 300 acre of land very soon to enable us to start real construction," he said.

Company sources said Posco had decided to take up rehabilitation measures before displacing anyone from the plant site.

Cho said though local people were initially opposing the project, they had now changed their mind. Narrating his recent visit to the site, he claimed locals received him warmly and "there was no tension during my visit".