Press Trust Of India
Bhubaneswar, Jan 5: Strongly condemning the ordinance on Land Acquisition Act 2013, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) Monday said the NDA government’s effort is clearly to appease interest of corporate forces at the cost of life and livelihoods of farmers.
‘‘This is clearly to appease the interest of corporate forces at the cost of life and livelihoods of millions of farmers who are in a state of possible destitution,’’ PPSS, the body spearheading the anti-project agitation since its inception, said in a statement.
PPSS said the mandatory ‘‘consent’’ clause and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) will not be applicable if the land is acquired for five purposes including national security, defence, rural infrastructure including electrification, industrial corridors and building social infrastructure, including PPP where ownership of land continues to be vested with the government.
‘‘We also condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met South Korean President Park Geun-hye at East Asia Summit, held at Naypyitaw, Myanmar November 13, 2014 and has offered full support for the establishment of Posco and to make efforts with the Orissa government to resolve any outstanding issues,’’ said PPSS spokesman Prasant Paikray.
It is not a surprise to see the double standards of the BJP government as many of its leaders have opposed handing over Khandadhar mines to Posco during election campaigning and extended tactic support to the mining project after coming to power at Centre, Paikray said.
The CPI backed PPSS also alleged that its supporters are booked in false cases and harassed by the state government.