BL reported that even as Orissa Chief Minister Mr Naveen Patnaik assured South Korean President Mr Lee Myung-bak in New Delhi on that his government will expedite implementation of the proposed steel project of POSCO, the people opposing establishment of the steel mill in Jagatsinghpur district started an indefinite dharna to reiterate their opposition.

As per report, hundreds of people facing displacement started the dharna at Balitutha under the leadership of Mr Abhay Sahoo, president of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.

Mr Prashant Paikray spokesman of PPSS told The Hindu that “We will not allow the establishment of the steel project in the area spread over three gram panchayats at any cost. The joint effort being made by POSCO India, administration, police and the ruling Biju Janata Dal to facilitate establishment of the steel plant will face continuous opposition from the villagers till the project was withdrawn from the area,.”

Balitutha is the main entry point to the site earmarked for the 12 million tonne per annum steel plant project. It was at Balitutha that the villagers opposing and supporting the project had clashed in November, 2007.

(Sourced from BL)