File picture of betel vine farmers in the Posco project area at Gobindpur

Paradip, May 3: The Jagatsinghpur district administration today acquired five betel vineyard plots for Posco steel project at Gobindpur village.

“The demand for compensation claim for new betel vineyards had triggered trouble as a section of local people were insistent on acquisition of the fresh-laid vineyards. As this amounted to fake claim, their demands were rejected outright.

“Talks were held with the dissenting villagers. The land acquisition resumed hassle free today after they had agreed to co-operate with the officials,” said special land acquisition officer Sarat Kumar Purohit.

About 80 vineyards are left for demolition at Gobindpur, and the majority of them are owned by local dwellers of Dhinkia, the anti-Posco hotbed, according to the officials.

“The forest areas of Gobindpur are de-reserved after the accordance of Stage-II clearance of the Union ministry for environment and forest.

“Therefore, we served notices under the Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act, asking the owners to vacate their land voluntarily. In case the encroachers do not abide by the government order, the betel vineyards will be forcefully acquired,” said an official.

A betel vineyard owner, Ranjan Kumar Bardhan, said: “The land owners had prayed for acquisition of new betel vine plots. But, the officials did not accept it. People have decided not to oppose the work any more. However, they have requested the administration to expeditiously implement the rehabilitation and resettlement measures for land losers and displaced families.”

“The land acquisition process for eight million tonnes per annum capacity Posco steel project made further progress today with the people’s consensus. Five betel vines were pulled down while over 100 standing trees were felled at Gobindpur forest areas. The exercise went on unhindered and was entirely resistance free.

“The land owners gave written consent for dismantling of the betel plots. The betel vineyards of the ‘willing’ owners were measured by the GPS technology,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick.

The felled logs and timber were all handed over to the local village forest committees.

“Earlier, the committees were entitled for taking possession of 50 per cent of the logs. The rest was to be put up for public auction. But, we have relaxed the rules for larger public interest,” he said.

In the ongoing exercise, the administration has acquired about 100 acres to meet with the project’s requirement.

The steel project needs 2,700 acres while Idco has transferred 1,703 acres to the South Korean steel-maker.