Youths stall Posco project work

PARADIP: Work on the proposed Posco project here was disrupted for hours on Sunday due to a dharna by local youths alleging non-fulfilment of their six demands. 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 accused the State Government of failing to meet their demands like increase in the compensation for the land losers and jobs in the project for the affected families, they said.As the youths vowed to continue their dharna till the demands were conceded, ground levelling, digging, filling and other works were stalled for over three hours in the area where the State Government claimed to have acquired about 1,800 acres.Work resumed after the protestors called off their dharna following intervention of senior district officials who assured the youths that their demands would be considered on priority.“Work is now in progress on the land already acquired by the Government for the Posco project,” said Sub-Collector Murlidhar Mallick.