Villagers seal entry points to Posco site

As per reports, eight check gates under Dhinkia panchayat have been erected to prevent entry of government and Posco officials. Vowing to intensify agitation, women of these villages have been guarding the gates with brooms in their hands. Moreover, they have been doing duty on relay basis round the clock. 

The decision in this regard was taken at a public meeting organised by the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), a CPI-backed agrarian body yesterday.

On the other hand, the district administration has said land acquisition process will resume in spite of PPSS resistance.

Meanwhile, BJP has demanded inclusion of additional conditions while renewing the MoU with Posco. During a press conference, senior BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan said, Posco should not be allowed to draw water from Mahanadi basin, the affected people should be taken into confidence prior to acquisition and Posco should not be accorded benefits under special economic zone (SEZ).

If government does not accept BJP’s demands, the saffron party would intensify stir in future, Harichandan cautioned.

On the contrary, the local legislator said there has been no impediment in carrying forward the mega steel project.