The resettlement of 75 families of Gobindpur and Patana villages in the Posco project site, who had left their villages three years back after being ostracized by the anti-Posco activists, has emerged as a challenge for the Jagatsinghpur district administration with the pro and anti-Posco groups taking up opposite postures on the issue.
While United Action Committee (UAC), a pro-Posco outfit, wants immediate return of these families to their villages, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), spearheading agitation against the project, is steadfast in blocking their return.
UAC pleaded that the return of these villagers is necessary in the light of the ongoing socio-economic survey for the project as their absence from the village during the survey will exclude them to claim compensation towards loss of house and property.
However, PPSS is opposing their return on the ground that it will lead to law and order situation in the area.
With the survey work expected to start in Gobindpur and Patana villages in the Dhinkia panchayat soon, the district administration is in a quandary to find a solution this problem.
UAC has sent a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Range) and the Jagatsinghpur district collector urging them to resettle these families in their respective villages before the resumption of Posco survey.
The UAC activists, led by its president Anadi Rout and secretary Nirvaya Samantray, have threatened to intensify their stir during the survey in the event of non-fulfillment of this demand.
On Tuesday, there was meeting between district administration and UAC members at the Gadkujang panchayat office to sort out the issue. N C Jena, the district collector has given assurance to resettle these families during the survey.
On the contrary, PPSS leader Abhaya Sahoo has opposed the district administration's move to resettle these families, stating that the issue did not figure during the recent talks with the Chief Minister.
PPSS would take the views of the villagers and then decide whether these families should be resettled or not, he added.
It may be noted that nearly 52 families of Patana village under Dhinkia panchayat were allegedly tortured and ostracized by the PPSS activists for backing the Posco steel project. Their houses were set ablaze and the betel vines and paddy crops were damaged by the anti-Posco activists.
These harried families had left their villages and were living in the Posco transit colony.
“These families have been living in a pathetic condition at the Posco transit colony. Even the district administration is yet to take any step to resettle them at their native villages during the survey.
Similarly, 23 families of Gobindpur were force to leave their village in 2008 due to clashes between the anti and pro-Posco activists in which one person from the anti-Posco camp was killed.
Since then, they have been living in the houses of their relatives.
