Work in proposed Posco site disrupted due to dharna

Ongoing work for the boundary wall came to a halt at Polanga in Gadakujang panchayat area of Jagatsinghpur district as a large number of youths from nearby Nuagaon area thronged the site and stalled all activities, official sources said.

The protesters staged a dharna accusing the state government of failing to meet their six-point charter of demands including increase in the compensation amount for the land losers and jobs in the project for affected families, they said.

As the youths vowed to continue their dharna till the demands were met, ground levelling, digging, filling and other work was stalled for over three hours in the area where the state government claims to have acquired about 1800 acres.

Work resumed after the demonstrators ended their dharna following intervention by senior district officials who assured the youths that their demands would be considered on priority basis, they said.

"Work is now in progress on land already acquired by the government for the Posco project. Work will continue tomorrow also," Kujang Tehsildar Basudeb Pradhan said.

The ground work has progressed over 1800 acres so far acquired in Gada Kujang and Nuagaon panchayats, a senior district official said.