The much awaited discussion between POSCO Pratirodha Sangram Samiti and Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Central rage which depended on the perspective of POSCO's INR 52,000 crore steel project has shown the rays of new hope for said project in Dhinkia and next meeting on June 5th would clear the perspective of said project in Orissa.
As per the decision of Mr Naveen Pattnaik chief minister of Orissa, five members of PPSS discussed with RDC in Cuttack on Saturday in which both PPSS and administration kept their different proposals to resolve the POSCO issues.
PPSS demanded to shift the POSCO project to other places either from this sate or other place of Jagatsinghpur district, withdrawn of false cases against anti POSCO activists and to stop POSCO survey till the end of the discussion between PPSS and RDC.
PPSS leaders have claimed that of the 4,004 acre of land required for setting up the 12 million tonne per annum A mega steel plant, 2,900 acre was categorized as forestland. Thousands of people have been maintaining their livelihood by cultivating betel vine, cashew and other crops including fishing since decade. These people have been received their land document in 1947 when these lands were not declared as reserve forest land. They have been occupied these lands from decade and have been maintained their livelihood by cultivating gold like crops. They have claimed that the type of land has been changed but the people have been occupying their land after obtaining land document.
They have expressed that the villagers of this locality are being considered as forest dwellers as per Forest Land Right Act in which they had been demanding the cancellation of the forest and environment clearance to the POSCO project near Paradip.
Sarpanch of Dhinkia panchyat Mr Sisir Mohapatra and other elected representatives expressed the Gram Sabhas of three panchyats Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadkujang had made resolution not to hand over forest land to POSCO company as per Forest Land Right Act but forest clearance has been to this company by violating panchayt act. On this ground, they opted to shift Posco Company for the state or other place of this district. Besides they demanded to withdraw false police cases against innocent people and urged the cancellation of Posco survey till the end of this discussion between RDC and PPSS.
On the other hand, administration kept its proposal to lift barricade from Dhinkia and Gobindpur for free entry of officials to normalize the situation as well as to implement the normal development activities. Officials have realized that the life and livelihood of affected people would be at stake as they have been maintaining their livelihood by cultivating the crops on forest and government land. They have clarified that suitable packages, compensation would be given to the affected people who are occupying the forest land and stressed porker implementation of R&R policy, employment and to provide other facilities.
On the other hand, RDC Mr PK Mohapatra has clarified that there is no chance to install POSCO steel project on private land of Dhinkia village so government has decided to exclude this land from said project. He said that the establishment of POSCO steel project on government land of Dhinika panchyat can not be ruled out so he informed d that Posco project may likely to set up on government land. POSCO survey would continue in other panchayts.
(Sourced from orissadiary.com)
