DHNS reported that the ghost of land acquisition for the proposed POSCO steel plant has returned to Halligudi in the district.

Within a few weeks after the agitation against the land acquisition was withdrawn following an assurance by the government not to acquire the land forcefully, minister for industries Mr Murugesh Nirani on Monday said over 80% of the farmers have given written consent to part with their land for the proposed steel unit.

He said that a final decision on the acquisition would be taken within a month. A meeting will be held on August 23 with farmers, leaders of the Opposition parties, legislators, Zilla Panchayat members and seers, to discuss the issue of setting up the steel unit, he added.

The minister said that “The protests were staged by those who had no stake in the issue.” He reiterated that if not in Halligudi, the steel plant project would be shifted to Bagalkot, Bijapur, Yadgir or Raichur. However, the minister added, the farmers would not be forced to part with their land for any reason.

Mr Nirani said that “The second edition of the Global Investors’ Meet will be held on July 7th 2012.”

The farmers, led by several organizations and pontiffs of various mutts including Annadaneeshwar Swami, had staged a protest for over weeks against the acquisition.

(Sourced from DHNS)