The ongoing socio economic and horticulture survey for the POSCO’s mega steel plant near Paradip in Orissa was severely affected in Dhinkia village, the epicenter of anti POSCO movement, due to non cooperation of the villagers.

The survey teams did not enter the Dhinkia village fearing escalation in violence. This village was excluded from a previous survey in 2008 on similar grounds.

However, the survey teams collected tentative figures on the land and other moveable assets of the people going to be affected by the project, possible number of displaced families and the number of betel vines and prawn gheris operating in the area based on the revenue records of the state government.

After completion of the forest and horticulture survey at Patana village, the survey teams had proceeded to Dhinkia. But with no villager turning up to cooperate with the enumeration work, the officials had to return without collecting relevant data.

The main aim of the survey is to identify displaced families and beneficiaries for offer of employment and compensation package. As no villager came forward to identify his movable and immovable asset and claim ownership of betel vines, the survey work could not be conducted.

Sources said that the activists of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti have threatened to drive away the villagers if they were present during the survey and also impose a fine of INR 10,000 if anyone identified his betel vine and other immovable assets.

PPSS has decided to observe Tuesday as the Black Day to mark the completion of five years of POSCO MoU.

Mr Surjeet Dash district rehabilitation officer admitted that the socio economic survey has been affected at Dhinkia village due to non cooperation of the villagers. He added that the district administration would follow the last Census report to ascertain the household survey, moveable assets and other information.

(Sourced from BS)