Bhubaneswar/Paradip, Dec. 16: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today shifted a high profile bureaucrat and nodal officer for Posco project, Priyabrata Patnaik, while the Odisha Assembly discussed Wednesday’s clash at the project site that had claimed one life.

The senior IAS officer was heading the state-run Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), which is entrusted with infrastructure development at the project site. He has been appointed as additional chief secretary, public grievances and pension administration, a major drop in terms of power and responsibility.

Panchayati raj secretary P.K. Jena has been given the additional charge of chairman-cum-managing director Idco. Official sources said Patnaik faced the axe as he had awarded the contract for construction of a road leading to the Posco project site to a private construction company that was at the centre of Wednesday’s clash.

The road construction had been stalled for three months because of opposition by local villagers. However, the contractor forcibly resumed work allegedly with the backing of armed goons. This triggered tension in the area culminating in a violent clash between the workers of the company and anti-Posco activists on Wednesday.

BJD legislators today sought to know how the contract was awarded to the private construction company without the mandatory tender and demanded a probe. Local MLA Damodar Rout wanted to know why the work was not awarded to the Paradip Port Trust.

The ruling party MLAs also alleged that the private contractor was ruling the roost as he enjoyed the patronage of some “influential persons”.

The Opposition blamed government inaction for the Wednesday’s clash. “The clash was the fallout of infighting in the ruling BJD,” alleged Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan demanding a CBI or judicial probe into the incident.

The police had remained a silent spectator when the private contractor was moving around in the area with the backing of private militia, he charged.

Naveen said: “This particular incident happened because the construction company’s people went to the area to take up the work without informing the police on that day. As soon the police came to know, six platoons of police force rushed to the spot. Because of the sandy terrain, it took some time for the force and magistrate to reach the spot. The case is under investigation and strict action will be taken as per law.”

On the award of contract to a private company without tender, Naveen said: “I am having this matter looked into.”

At the project area, Posco today opened an office at Nuagaon, Posco India deputy general manager S.N. Singh said,

“There was no public protest whatsoever as the office became operational following a simple programme today. The company officials and local people were present at the programme.”

It will help both the company and state-run Idco officials to supervise the project work and people’s grievances in a better way, Singh added.

However, the project work that had resumed on Tuesday after remaining suspended for over three months now remains stuck up in the wake of the violence and protest.

“No project-related work has happened since Wednesday. All the work has been suspended till further orders,” said additional district magistrate Surajeet Das.