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Bhubaneswar: Orissa's plans to resume land acquisition for the Posco project in the state faced new trouble with project's supporters Monday refusing to cooperate unless their demands were met.The state government earlier this month announced it would resume land acquisition for the steel and port project in Jagatsinghpur district May 18 despite local opposition.
Now United Action Committee, which has been supporting the project, said they will extend their cooperation to the local authorities only after fulfilment of their 29 demands.
These include more compensation for those who will lose their betel vines and lands and assurance of one job in the company for each of the proposed displaced families.
'We support the project. That does not mean people will accept whatever the government and the company decides,' UAC president Anadi Rout said.
Senior district officials Monday held a meeting with the pro-Posco group members but it ended without any fruitful result.
'If the government starts the land acquisition process without settling the impending issues, we will not cooperate,' Rout told IANS.
Posco had signed a memorandum of understanding June 22, 2005, for a 12 million tonne steel plant near the port town of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, some 100 km from Bhubaneswar.
The project has been touted as the largest foreign investment in India. There has been however no progress on ground yet because of local opposition.
The environment ministry earlier this month gave a final green clearance to the $12 billion project after the state government reiterated that no traditional forest dwellers were dependent on or cultivating land in the proposed project area.
The state government also has to renew its pact or sign a fresh pact with the company for the project. The five-year pact it signed in 2005 expired in June 2010.
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Now United Action Committee, which has been supporting the project, said they will extend their cooperation to the local authorities only after fulfilment of their 29 demands.
These include more compensation for those who will lose their betel vines and lands and assurance of one job in the company for each of the proposed displaced families.
'We support the project. That does not mean people will accept whatever the government and the company decides,' UAC president Anadi Rout said.
Senior district officials Monday held a meeting with the pro-Posco group members but it ended without any fruitful result.
'If the government starts the land acquisition process without settling the impending issues, we will not cooperate,' Rout told IANS.
Posco had signed a memorandum of understanding June 22, 2005, for a 12 million tonne steel plant near the port town of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, some 100 km from Bhubaneswar.
The project has been touted as the largest foreign investment in India. There has been however no progress on ground yet because of local opposition.
The environment ministry earlier this month gave a final green clearance to the $12 billion project after the state government reiterated that no traditional forest dwellers were dependent on or cultivating land in the proposed project area.
The state government also has to renew its pact or sign a fresh pact with the company for the project. The five-year pact it signed in 2005 expired in June 2010.
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