ET reported that barely three days after the new resettlement and rehabilitation package was announced for the people to be affected by POSCO’s 12 million tonne steel project, thousands of anti POSCO activists on Sunday held a massive rally at Balidhipa near Paradip and vowed not to allow the South Korean steel major to enter the area.

They also burnt down copies of the special compensation package for the project affected people.

The activists, who under the banner of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, gathered at the meeting place, said the state government wanted to woo the local people by offering a fresh package that promises increased financial compensation for lands.

The PPSS leaders, who addressed the gathering, observed that “Package or no package, people are not interested to part with their lands. Why the state government is so keen for POSCO project that threatens to throw local people out of their traditional livelihoods? Why does it not encourage agriculture? Vegetable prices have gone up. Encourage the farmers to grow vegetables and cash crop and they can earn more what they will get from POSCO.”

The Sunday’s meeting has come as a major setback to the state government’s effort to win the hearts of local people in favor of the support.

(Sourced from ET)