File picture of betel vine farmer at the Posco site

Paradip, May 17: Brushing aside the refusal of the United Action Committee (UAC), a pro-Posco outfit, to cooperate with it, the Jagatsinghpur district administration has stuck to its earlier decision of resuming land acquisition for the 12million-tonne steel plant of the South Korean company from tomorrow.

The work will begin with the acquisition of land under betel cultivation in Gadakujang panchayat at the project site.

“The land acquisition process would resume on Wednesday morning as decided earlier. Our instructions are clear and we will be at the spot tomorrow to commence the exercise,” said Sujeet Das, project director, rehabilitation and resettlement, Posco project.

The UAC has decided not to join the government exercise as a final decision on its charter of demands was yet to be taken. The marathon discussion between UAC representatives and the district administration yesterday had failed to yield any results.

“In the event of plot owners not turning up to identify the plots for acquisition and take compensation cheques, we have been asked to return from the spot. No forcible demolition of betel vines would be done,” the officials said indicating that tomorrow’s exercise would, in all probability, be symbolic in nature.

The UAC today reiterated its stand to dissociate from the land acquisition exercise. “We discussed the issue today. We have decided to refrain from agitational measures such as, road blockades but the villagers have consented to our proposal to stay away from the land acquisition process. Any move to forcibly demolish betel vines would be resisted”, said Nirvaya Samantaray, general secretary, UAC.

“We would act according to the circumstances. If the situation permits, the betel vines’ measurement and its pulling down work would begin at 7am and is scheduled to be over by 10.30am. This is to protect the land acquisition personnel from the scorching sun,” said Muralidhar Swain, BDO, Erasama.

The land acquisition work would be carried out by four squads headed by tehsildars of Kujang, Raghunathpur, Tirtol and Balikuda. They would be assisted by IDCO officials. Each squad would have two revenue inspectors, two amins, two grade four employees, two labourers besides forest and horticulture department staff. GPS operators deputed by IDCO would make full-proof location of plot before it was measured and acquired, he said.

“We have sought deployment of adequate platoons of armed police to maintain law and order in the project areas. Part of the police force has already arrived,” the BDO said.

“We have been supporting the project for over five years. In return, we feel let down on issues of enhanced compensation and livelihood support package for would-be-displaced families.