Unfazed by stiff protest against the Posco steel plant from various quarters, Orissa government on Tuesday announced 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 Mr B K Patnaik told reporters here.

He said preliminary work like cleaning and levelling of the land were now taken up to make the area fit for launch of construction of the Rs 52,000 crore mega project.

Foundation stone was 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, Additional District Magistrate (Paradip) Mr Sarojkant Choudhury said.

Foundation stone was also laid for construction of boundary walls around the land that mostly housed betel vines in the area amid tight security, he said.

Announcing a temporary halt of further land acquisition for the mega project, the ADM said, for the time being, the administration would focus on preparing the acquired area ready for construction of plant.

In the meantime, talks are on with various groups to facilitate resumption of land acquisition, he said.

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