PARADIP: Work at the proposed Posco steel project could not be taken up due to a face-off between the police and villagers at Polang under Gadakujang panchayat on Saturday. Eight persons, including six women, were injured in the scuffle.The clash erupted when the district administration tried to fell trees amid protests by the villagers.Members of Sanghapai and Mathasahi forest committees objected to the move by the district administration and insisted on fulfilment of their demands, including jobs to the affected families and hike in compensation.Nuagaon Sarpanch Bhaskar Swain alleged that the police thrashed the women who opposed felling of trees.However, SP Devdatta Singh refuted the allegation and said police did not resort to any lathicharge at Polang village.Project director (rehabilitation and resettlement) Surjeet Singh said the district administration had stopped ancillary work at Polang due to resistance by locals but construction work is continuing in Noliasahi village under Gadakujang panchayat.“No police excesses were committed as claimed by some people. Police were discussing with people when the villagers used vulgar language and chased them with batons and brooms,” Additional District Magistrate Sarojkanta Choudhury said.Inspector of Kujanga police station Gupteswar Bhoi said, “Officials along with police force reached the forest area at Mathasahi for felling of trees. They tried to convince the people but the people prevented the police from proceeding”. Police did not use force nor anyone was injured, Bhoi added. Nuagaon, Gadakujang and Dhinkia are three gram panchayats in Jagatsinghpur district which had been identified for Posco’s proposed mega steel plant.
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