UACs consent to continue work for Posco

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 earlier refused to attend Thursday’s meeting in the absence of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central).UAC secretary Nirvya Samantray said that since the RDC is busy with the preparations of the Rath Yatra, they agreed to allow the on-going work following a written assurance from the government to fulfil their demands. “Talks between district officials and the UAC members held at Gadakujanga were cordial. We assured them that the demands will be taken up at the RDC level talks,” said district Collector Narayan Chandra Jena.A UAC member Tamil Pradhan alleged that the construction works are being awarded without floating tenders even as the locals are being ignored. The issue of taking consent of the seven village forest right committees too featured in the meeting with the members demanding compensation for the villagers affected by the cutting of trees on the forest land.The administration agreed to allow the committees 50 percent of the trees felled during the on-going work, while the other 50 percent would be auctioned among the villagers.“Even as the administration will take up the survey work on Saturday, they will also try and convince the committee in the next three days to allow clearing of forest lands,” said Special Land Acquisition officer Nrusingh Swain.The villagers of Noliasahi have threatened to continue with their stir. Similarly, the villagers of Nuagaon, under the banner of Bhita Mati Surkhya 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 the Posco Pratirodh  Sangram Samiti demonstrated at Gobindpur, opposing the Posco project.