PTI reported that about 3,000 families of six villages are likely to get rehabilitation package if POSCO India establishes its steel plant at the proposed site near Paradip.

This was found in the recently concluded socio economic and horticulture survey in the proposed plant site in Jagatsinghpur district, the report of which was submitted at the chief minister's office on July 3rd 2010.

Though the survey was conducted at all the seven villages, the administration was yet to identify beneficiaries from Dhinkia village, where people did not cooperate with the survey team.

Though most of the betel vines and horticulture trees were located on government land, the steel major would have to pay compensation to the families using the land since decades.

Mr NC Jena Jagatsinghpur district collector said that "There are 1493 betel vines and 952 big trees at the proposed project site.”

Mr Jena said the district administration's priority would be to motivate people of Dhinkia village to take benefits from the opportunity.

A review meeting on POSCO-India project chaired by CM's principal secretary Mr Bijay Patnaik also asked the revenue divisional commissioner, central division to organize Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee on the project soon.

RPDAC meeting is to finalize the compensation package in consultation with the affected villagers and elected representatives of the area.

(Sourced from PTI)