Bhubaneswar: Activists opposing Posco's
proposed Rs 51,000 crore steel project launched an indefinite
sit-in in the area demarcated for the plant near Paradip in
Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday.
The dharna was started at Balitutha, considered as
the entry point to the proposed plant site, by activists of
CPI-backed Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), which has
been spearheading an agitation against move to set up the 12
mtpa steel plant in the area.
"The dharna which began today will continue for an
indefinite period in order to prevent the South Korean company
from acquiring fertile land for its project," PPSS leader
Abhaya Sahu said.
Stating that PPSS was determined not to allow
acquisition of land in the area at any cost, he said people
are ready to go to any extent for their survival as farming is
the chief source of their livelihood.
Meanwhile, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who
returned here tonight after meeting South Korean President Lee
Myung Bak, said the government was committed to establishment
of the project which involves biggest FDI into the country.
Patnaik said the project would not only raise steel
production but also generate substantial direct and indirect
employment opportunities.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 00:18