Work at Posco site resumes after 10 days

BHUBANESWAR: There is something to finally cheer for Posco. Work at the proposed 52,000-crore proposed steel project in Orissa's Jagatsinghpur district resumed on Tuesday after remaining stalled since June 26. "Work in Gadakujanga and Nuagaon areas has resumed on Wednesday," Jagatsinghpur district collector NC Jena said.

Felling of trees and clearing of forest area and that of betel-vine farms were continuing in Gadakujanga and Nuagaon areas, official sources said, adding that steps were also taken for ground leveling.

In the Polanga-Noliasahi area of Nuagaon panchayat, where rehabilitation colony for displaced people was proposed to be constructed, sand filling and other civil works were in progress, the district chief maintained.

Work at the South Korean steel company's steel project had come to a stop after villagers and activists of United Action Committee, a pro-Posco outfit backing the mega project, staged a dharna demanding immediate fulfillment of their demands.

The authorities had agreed to fulfil all the six demands of UAC after prolonged talks with Mr Jena on Friday. The UAC had been focusing on immediate fulfillment of six of the 29 demands that among others include; job for one member of each affected family, provision for restoration of traditional livelihoods like betel cultivation and fishing, 30% increase in compensation for betel crop and giving petty work contracts to local youths, increase in land prices from 17 lakh to 25 lakh per acre and educational facilities for the displaced families.

Jena assured UAC representatives that all their demands would be included in the next Rehabilitation Peripheral Development Advisory Committee.