New Delhi: In the wake of stiff
opposition from locals against acquisition of land for Posco`s
steel plant, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said
he believed in peaceful industrialisation of the state and
would take an "appropriate and humane" decision on it.
"Let me clarify that I personally believe, I always
believed in peaceful industrialisation in Orissa," he told
reporters here.
Patnaik was reacting to Union Environment Minister
Jairam Ramesh`s comment that the Orissa government should not
use environmental clearance for the project as a "license for
forcible acquisition of land" for Posco`s steel plant in
Govindpur village.
Commenting on the protests by locals against the
acquisition of land for the project, Patnaik said the state
government was monitoring the situation closely.
"We will take appropriate and humane decisions as far
as this matter is concerned. We will find a solution," he
said.
Govindpur villagers, who have refused to give away
their land for the steel plant have formed a three-tier human
barricade at the entry point.
The Orissa government has declared the protests as
"unlawful" and redeployed about 800 personnel in the area.
Ramesh had also said while all parties should adhere
to democratic norms and procedures, "I earnestly hope that the
state government will not take any precipitate action."
PTI
