Paradip, April 11: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today paid a visit to an area close to the proposed Posco steel project in Jagatsinghpur district, providing an impetus to the much-delayed mega steel venture.

Naveen, flanked by BJD leaders, addressed a public meeting at Balikuda, about 45km from the steel project boundary.

The chief minister’s visit to Jagatsinghpur assumes much significance at a time when the district administration is giving final touches to the restart of land acquisition exercise at one of the project villages.

Naveen refrained from making direct mention of the steel project, but made oblique reference of the project and left it to his party colleagues to do the talking. “Jagatsinghpur district is witness to industrialisation spree. In coming days, it will prosper economically and provide immense employment opportunity. The coastal district will become the face of modern Odisha with scores of industrial ventures lining up,” Naveen said.

Speaking on the occasion, Jagatsinghpur MLA Bishnu Charan Das said: “The chief minister visited Jagatsinghpur only because he wants the steel project to come here. It is the pet project of the Odisha government as it will lead to the growth of economic development,” Das said.

In another development, the district administration is ready to restart the land acquisition process while Posco opponents are gearing up to give a “final push” to the resistance movement against the South Korean steel-maker. Though the land acquisition process has been put on hold, the steel company has undertaken peripheral development activity, which has so far been free from hindrances at the project villages.

Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick said: “We have finalised to re-start land acquisition shortly with consensus and co-operation of local people. The process will be peaceful as the landowners are willing to give away their betel vineyards.”

The outfit opposing the project, however, reiterated its resistance to the possible resumption of land acquisition. “It would be a do-or-die battle for us as the administration has resolved to take forcible possession of land. Human barricades will be formed with women and children in the forefront to stop them from entering the project village. We will fight till the end,” said Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti chief Abhaya Sahu.