Posco: Government yet to decide on fresh MoU

BHUBANESWAR: With rights activists lining up at the Posco site to lend their support to the agitating villagers, the State Government on Thursday reiterated that no forcible land acquisition has taken place. Nor has Forest Rights Act (FRA) been violated, it said and claimed progress at the ground level.Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik told mediapersons here that there has been no violation of any law for the Posco project. Stating that the groundwork had started over 1,800 acres of land so far acquired in Gadakujang and Nuagaon gram panchayats, Patnaik said the Government would abide by the law and court verdicts in this regard.Opposition political parties and social activists visiting the project site everyday after the latest round of land acquisition began, have alleged forcible eviction.However, amid mounting opposition, the Government suspended land takeover in Gobindpur and Dhinkia for now. The Jagatsinghpur district administration has started negotiating with the agitating people to convince them about the benefits of the project. About 3,700 acres of land is required for setting up the steel plant with an investment of ` 52,000 crore.Patnaik, however, did not announce a date for the renewal of MoU with the South Korean company. About 15 departments and Posco-India have given their views on the MoU. He hoped the renewal would be inked by month-end.Patnaik, however, parried a question on the controversial swapping clause in the lapsed MoU. The Government has been examining the issue, he said adding that Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and others had suggested to avoid the iron ore export provision in the revised MoU.In his May 2 order giving final forest clearance to the Posco project, Ramesh had asked the State Government to renegotiate and delete the iron ore export clause in the revised MoU.Sources said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will take the final call on the swapping issue.Meanwhile, social activists, NGO members and political party leaders continued to visit the site to express solidarity with agitating villagers.Social activist Vandana Shiva on Thursday joined the dharna.