In yet another setback to the beleaguered Posco steel project in Orissa, the members of the United Action Committee (UAC), a purportedly pro-Posco outfit in the project site area, has decided not to apply to the district administration in Jagatsinghpur for compensation against loss of betel vines.
The UAC members refused to collect the application forms from the administration for this unless their 29-point charter of demands relating to compensation, rehabilitation package and employment are fulfilled.
In parallel, the Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS), the organization spearheading the anti-Posco movement, has urged the villagers of Dhinkia not to receive the application forms pertaining to compensation.
PPSS leader cum sarpanch of Dhinkia, Sisir Mohapatra asserted that not a single person of Dhinkia will apply for compensation as a mark of protest against the Posco project.
He pointed out that there was no rationale for the Dhinkia villagers to apply for compensation as the betel vine farmers were selling 1000 betel leaves at the rate of Rs 1200.
On the other hand, the UAC activists have strongly protested the decision of the district administration to invite applications from the affected people without finalizing the compensation towards the loss of betel vines.
They alleged that neither the district administration nor the Posco authorities are negotiating with the affected villagers on issues like compensation, rehabilitation packages, employment and other issues to help bring normalcy in the trouble torn Dhinikia and Gobindpur villages.
Sources said 70 families who were compelled to quit Dhinkia panchayat due to alleged torture by the anti-Posco activists are yet to be resettled.In a bid to expedite the land acquisition process, the district administration has invited application forms from the locals who are going to lose their betel vines because of the Posco project.
The deadline for collecting the application forms is February 10.
Gyanranjan Dash, the Jagatsinghpur district collector said steps are being taken to discuss with affected people to finalize the rate of compensation in the presence of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) chairman and Posco officials.
In a recent review meeting held on Friday, it was decided to evict the encroachers from the forest land needed for the project in the first phase.
The villagers of Dhinkia and Gobindpur have encroached on the forest land and have planted betel vines, cashew and other crops.
Meanwhile, the UAC members held a meeting on Monday with the villagers of Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadkujang panchayats.
Naukal Sahoo, sarpanch of Gadkujang panchayat said, UAC has directed all the villagers of the proposed Posco area not to receive the application form without finalization of the longstanding 29-point charter of demands.
