Paradip/Cuttack, May 30: The authorities today acquired about 4.5 acres at the Posco project site even as leaders of the United Action Committee (UAC) had a successful meeting with the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC) in Cuttack.
While the UAC leaders expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the meeting, a section of the landlosers appeared disappointed saying that nothing tangible has emerged from the discussions as far as the demand for revision of the compensation package was concerned.
“As many as 42 betel vineyards were pulled down today and 4.5 acres of encroached forestland under betel vine cultivation was brought under the state government’s possession. Compensation to the tune of Rs 52lakh was paid,” said Nrusingha Charan Swain, special land acquisition officer for the project.
Stating that the UAC has been assured that all its six demands would be met, its president Anadi Charan Rout said the committee was seeking at least one job in the project for each displaced family, enhanced compensation for both homestead and agricultural land and for the labourers working in betel vineyards.
“The rehabilitation and peripheral development advisory committee had decided that labourers working in betel vineyards would get 20 per cent of the cost of the value of betel farms. We had demanded that this be increased to 30 per cent. We were assured of an increase though not to 30 per cent,” Rout said.
“We were also assured of different rates for homestead and agricultural land along with the compensation rate per acre,” he added. The state government had earlier decided to give Rs 17lakh per acre to the landlosers of the Posco project. Revenue divisional commissioner (central division) P.K. Mohapatra said the talks were “fruitful”. He also said UAC’s demands would be acted upon soon.
Former agriculture minister Damodar Rout, who joined the discussions midway, said the talks ended on a note of “mutual assurance”.
Meanwhile, cases have been registered against Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) president Abhay Sahu and some other members of the outfit in connection with Saturday’s incident in which eight policemen were held hostage at Patanahaat village. The accused have been booked under sections 147, 148, 351, 353 of the Indian Penal Code and section-7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act.
The project area is still divided over issues such as compensation. While the UAC seems happy with the assurance of the RDC, some betel vineyard owners did not appear satisfied with the outcome of today’s meeting. Ajaya Parida, who gave away about 15 decimal of betel vine plot at Nuagaon today, said: “I had hoped that government would make a final announcement about a revised compensation. Our patience is running out. They should not take long to settle these issues.”
On the other hand, Damodar Rout sought to dispel people’s fears saying that the government was keen to protect their interests. “But the revision in compensation has to be worked out and sanctioned within the parameters of rehabilitation and resettlement policy introduced by the state government in 2005,” he said.
state of affairs
Demands of United Action Committee
Hike compensation for private agriculture land to Rs 30 lakh per acre
Revise compensation for homestead land to Rs 30 lakh per acre
Hike compensation for betel vines to Rs 30 lakh per acre
Hike compensation for betel vine labourers to 30 per cent of amount paid to their respective landowners
Include betel vines demolished in 2008 in new compensation package
Include 56 families taking shelter in transit colony in land acquisition and compensation package
Salient features of package announced on July 8, 2010
Compensation for agricultural and homestead land: Rs 17 lakh per acre
Compensation for betel vineyards: Rs 11.5 lakh per acre
Subsistence allowance to displaced betel vines growers: Rs 2,250 per month
Job to a member of every displaced nucleus family according to educational qualification
Compensation for prawn gheries: Rs 2 lakh per acre
Compensation for farmers in possession of encroached government land: Rs 1 lakh
per acre
Pucca house built over 10 decimal of homestead land to each displaced family
Compensation to landless betel vine labourers: 20 per cent of sum received by their respective landowners against acquisition of land
