Those facilitating implementation of the proposed 12-million-tonnes capacity steel plant project of Posco in Orissa are happy with the orders of the Environment and Forests Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, granting conditional clearance to the venture. But the order has only fuelled the anger of the villagers opposing for long the land acquisition for the steel mill.

Activists of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) have already erected as many as six barricades on the entry points to the site selected for the steel-cum-captive power plant in an area spread over three gram panchayats in Jagatsinghpur district. The activists, who termed the order of the Environment Minister as “unfortunate” and the conditions imposed by him an “eyewash”, have started manning the barricades to prevent the entry of government officials, the police and Posco employees to the project site.

“We will intensify our agitation against land acquisition till the Government withdraws the project from our locality, where people were able to earn their livelihood by growing paddy, betel nuts and vegetables and also engaging themselves in fishing and cattle rearing,” said PPSS President, Mr Abhay Sahoo.

The authorities, however, are hopeful of restarting land acquisition after the State Government gives an assurance to the Centre stating that there were no other traditional forest dwellers in the forest land that comes within the selected site.

But the villagers are in no mood to give up their stand. “We will continue our agitation in a peaceful manner. If the Government resorts to repressive measures to acquire land, it would be responsible for any law and order situation in the area.”

The villagers supporting the venture have been demanding that the issue be sorted out through dialogues. But no meaningful interaction between the authorities and opponents has taken place so far.

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