People affected by Posco steel project must get proper compensation, rehabilitation: Rahul Gandhi

JHARSUGUDA (Orissa): Giving a patient hearing to woes of tribals here, Rahul Gandhi asserted that people affected by the Posco steel project must get justice, proper compensation and rehabilitation.

He said development is essential but it has to be ensured that people affected in this process must be adequately taken care of. "If Posco provides proper rehabilitation to the affected people then we will be with Posco. If it fails to do so, we will be with the agitating people fighting for justice," Gandhi said during an interaction with tribals at a youth conference here.

Jharsuguda is about 400 km from Bhubaneswar. South Korean steel major Posco’s $12 billion steel project in Orissa, billed as country's largest FDI, was given conditional clearance by the Environment Ministry in May after adopting a tough stand.

" Congress is with the people to provide them justice. Development is essential, but the project affected people should be provided proper compensation and rehabilitation," Rahul Gandhi, who has also backed tribals of Niyamgiri in Orissa who had opposed Vedanta’s mining project, said.

He had earlier visited Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district where tribals have been agitating against bauxite mining there.