Work at the proposed Posco steel project site in Orissa’s Jagatsinghpur district was suspended for the third consecutive day today due to protests by villagers over felling of trees.
“We will discuss the matter with people and seek their cooperation before going ahead with the work in the proposed project area”, District Collector, Mr N.C. Jena, said.
In the wake of Saturday’s unsuccessful attempt by the administration to fell trees in Mathasahi under Nuagaon panchayat which led to a scuffle between the police and villagers causing injury to five women, villagers were keeping a strict vigil in the area.
A large number of women were seen guarding the forest area at Mathasahi while men were sitting on a dharna at Nuagaon under the banner of Bhitamati Surakshya Manch (BSM).
The President of pro-Posco United Action Committee (UAC), Mr Anadi Rout, condemned the alleged police excess on women protestors at Mathasahi on Saturday. He urged fulfilment of their six demands before carrying out work in the area.
The ongoing dharna by anti-Posco outfit at Dhnikia has been strengthened after the participation of Dongaria Kondh tribals from Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district. Holding their traditional weapons, about 100 tribals were shouting slogans against displacement of people from the area.
About 200 security personnel, deployed at Nuagaon, had been withdrawn from the area and were now camping at Kujanga while four platoons were deployed at Dhinkia.