Odisha government goes ahead with project related work at POSCO site

The Odisha government has started project related work at the sites acquired so far for POSCO's mega steel project even as it halted land acquisition over controversies regarding allotment of project-related contract work.

Despite stiff resistance to the project from various quarters, the state government said, it would resume land acquisition in Jagatsinghpur district, which was temporarily suspended following the resignation of the president of a pro-POSCO group.

The Odisha government today announced the start of project related work in areas already acquired in Jagatsinghpur district while temporarily suspending further land acquisition.

"We have already acquired about 1,800 acres of land for the proposed POSCO plant near Paradip and are beginning project related work in the area acquired by the government," chief secretary BK Patnaik said.

The state agencies are currently undertaking preliminary work like cleaning and levelling of land for the $12 billion (Rs52,000 crore) mega steel project, he said.

Meanwhile, authorities today managed to lay foundation stone for the boundary wall for the project site, which was held up last night over dispute over allocation of contract work. Foundation stone was also laid for a rehabilitation colony for displaced people near Polanga and Noliasahi in Gadakujang gram panchayat where the district administration of Jagatsinghpur has acquired land.

The wall is being constructed around an area where the land is widely used for cultivation of betel vines. The foundation was laid amid tight security, he said.

The district administration is also engaged in parallel talks with the project-affected people following the lull in land acquisition over the feud within the pro-project group.