Posco land acquisition continues amidst protests

PARADIP: Altogether 39 betel vine plantations were demolished by the administration today amidst allegation of use of force for meeting the land acquisition target of 2,700 acre for Posco's mega steel project in Jagatsinghpur district.

"We require another 50 acre to meet the target. It will be acquired from Gobindpur village. The district administration plans to hand over the land to the authorities by the first week of July," Jagatsinghpur District Collector S K Mallick said.

Admitting that the police removed the villagers who obstructed officials in the demolition, he said, "We are vacating land under encroachment by villagers. The government has been giving compensation to them," Mallick said.

Villagers, however, alleged that the police made a lathi-charge on them for protesting the demolition work which took place with the help of state-owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Kalpataru Mishra who was leading the protesters alleged that five villagers were injured in the lathi-charge.