Pro-Posco outfit allows resumption of work

PARADIP: The success of the meeting between the administration and the United Action Committee (UAC) members on Friday has paved way for resumption of work at the proposed Posco project site.The construction of boundary walls and rehabilitation colonies was stalled for more than a week following opposition to tree felling by the pro-Posco outfit in Gadakujang and Nuagaon panchayats over their six demands.The UAC members had refused to attend Thursday’s meeting in the absence of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central zone). UAC secretary Nirbhay Samantray said since RDC is busy with the preparations of Rath Yatra, they have agreed to allow the on-going work following a written assurance from the government to fulfil their demands. “Talks between district officials and UAC members held at Gadakujang were cordial. We assured them that the demands will be taken up at the RDC level talks,” said District Collector Narayan Chandra Jena.Tamil Pradhan , a UAC member, alleged that the construction works are being awarded without floating tenders, even as locals are being ignored. The issue of taking consent of the seven village forest right committee too featured in the meeting with the members demanding compensation for the villagers affected by the cutting of trees on forest land.The administration agreed to allow the committees 50 per cent share in the trees felled during the ongoing work, while the rest would be auctioned among the villagers. The administration will take up the survey work on Saturday and also make efforts to convince the committees in the next  three days to allow clearing of forest lands, said Special Land Acquisition Officer Nrusingha SwainThe villagers of Noliasahi have, however, threatened to continue with their stir against felling of trees till the villagers are rehabilitated.Similarly, the villagers of Nuagaon, under the banner of Bhitammati Surakhya Manch led by its president Suresh Mohapatra, staged a dharna at Nuagaon demanding shifting of Posco project from the village, even as the activists of Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti demonstrated at Gobindpur opposing the Posco project.