Naveen Patnaik promises full support to Posco as agitators block access to project site

Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, which is agitating against South Korean steel major Posco's mega steel plant project has intensified its stir following Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik's air-dash to New Delhi yesterday to promise full support for the project before South Korean president Lee Myung-bak.

The organisation's activitists along with about 500 demonstrators who do not want the project to come up at the proposed location have undertaken an indefinite dharna to block entry of any official of the administration of the steel company in the vicinity of the project site.

The opposition to the project comes from people who will lose their homes and land spread over 4004 acres in Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang gram panchayats of Jagatsinghpur district.

Samiti president, Abhay Sahoo blames the chief minister for kowtowing to the Korean company and compromising the interests of the project affected people who will be uprooted due to the establishment of the plant on their land.

The Samiti's protest dharna would continue round the clock.

Meanwhile analysts say even if both Laxmi Mittal, whose proposed 12-million tonne steel plant is in limbo, and Posco were to abandon their respective projects, it would be a blow to the state, it would still not warrant writing off investments in Orissa.