Post News Network
Kendrapara, June 8: With uncertainty looming large over the fate of Posco’s mega project in the state, locals have started betel plantation on the lands earlier acquired by Idco at proposed Posco site.
According to Nirbhaya Samantaray, general secretary of united action committee (a pro-posco outfit), more than two dozen betel vines have been set up by locals at Gobindapur and Polanga under Kujang block in Jagatsinghpur district in last one month.
“The vines have been erected on the land acquired earlier by Idco with the help of local administration,” he said.
Several jubilant locals of Nuagaon, Bayanalakanda and Noliasahi villages of Jagatsinghpur said they are ready to restart betel vine business in their localities.
“We have handed over our land to the district administration for setting up of the Posco plant after obtaining compensation amounts. But when Posco’s fate is hanging in balance, why should not we indulge in our traditional occupation on our lands,” a betel farmer of Gobindapur said, requesting not to publish his name.
Families of over 50 youths, who had migrated to other states for work after their betel vines were demolished by the district administration, have started asking their wards to return as they have once again set up the vines, said Samantaray.
Several developments in recent times have made the locals at proposed Posco site believe that the Posco steel plant would never come up in their localities.
According to sources, Indian employees of the South Korean company have started leaving their jobs, while both the state government and Posco have hardened their stance over payment of acquired land. Moreover, Posco has also withdrawn from the special purpose vehicle for the laying of the Haridaspur-Paradip railway line, which would facilitate transport of iron ore from the mines to the proposed plant.
“With the hope of getting employed by Posco, locals had handed over their lands after demolishing their betel vines. But now that Posco’s future here is in dark, locals have started setting up the vines on their lands,” said Abhaya Sahu, president of Posco pratirodha sangram samiti (PPSS)
However, some cultivators are ready to wait for a few more months before reclaiming their lands.
Meanwhile, locals have started backing their neighbours to take possession of the lands to construct betel vine yards, said Sahu.
According to sources, about 1,118 betel vines were demolished in five villages – Nuagaon, Polanga, Bayanalakanda, Gobindpur and Noliasahi. A compensation of about `24.40 crore was distributed among the villagers.
Two months ago, IDCO sent a letter asking Posco India to pay the outstanding dues of `54.22 crore towards 1,703 acre of land already handed over to it and an additional `19 crore for net present value of de-reserved forest land.