Paradip, March 10: There are signs of the anti-Posco movement weakening in Dhinkia, the epicentre of the agitation.

Despite assertions by leaders of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) that people won’t give an inch of land for the proposed steel plant of the South Korean company, several people in Dhinkia gram panchayat have expressed willingness to part with their land.

Sources said the volte face has been prompted by the government’s announcement that it would leave out private land in Dhinkia village from the ambit of the project, thus bringing down the number of displaced people.

The state government has decided to exclude the 284 acres of land owned by 190 people under Dhinkia gram panchayat because of the anti-plant movement.

“Some landowners have made an oral commitment to transfer land. But we are yet to receive any written communication from them. It seems people are willing to give their land for the mega project,” said Muralidhar Swain, block development officer, Erasama block.

“I am willing to give my land. But we should be given a higher compensation package. It should be more than Rs 11.50lakh per acre,” said Debadatta Swain from Dhinkia village.

Swain, who owns three acres of land, added, “Enough is enough. We had resisted the project. Now we think the project should come up here in larger public interest.”

Dhinkia had almost remained out of bounds for the government and company officials with villagers digging up approach roads and setting up barricades to prevent the entry of police. PPSS president Abhay Sahu, who ensured that Dhinkia turned into a fortress, had asserted that no one would give an inch of land to the company.

“Earlier, the government had estimated that 803 families would be displaced to meet the land requirement for the South Korean steel major. But after the authorities decided that they would not acquire private land in Dhinkia village, the number came down to 613,” said Nrusingha Charan Swain, special land acquisition officer.

Out of 438 acres of private land required for the project, Dhinkia gram panchayat alone accounts for 284 acres. “We are the original inhabitants of Dhinkia village. We are the custodians of fertile private land. Those who are protesting against the project under the banner of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti are outsiders. The state government should make a special package for us. We are willing to part with our land,” said Jogendra Mallick of Dhinkia village.

Other private landowners, such as Saroj Swain, Bijoya Das, Debendra Swain, Sarat Lenka, Suresh Muduli, Magu Sahani too are willing to part with their land.

Nirvaya Samantray, secretary, United Action Committee, a pro-Posco outfit, said: “Private land in Dhinkia should be acquired now as the landowners are willing to transfer the land. The strength of people opposing the project is dwindling every day. The steel project should come up in the interest of the growth and prosperity of this coastal belt.”

The Posco project needs 4,004 acres, of which 2,900 acre is forestland. Of the total forestland, Dhinkia and Gobindpur villages account for 1,700 acres.

Dhinkia sarpanch and PPSS general secretary Sisir Kumar Mahaptra , however, refused to concede that people of the village were willing to give land for the project. “These might be stray cases. The majority is still opposing land acquisition for the project,” he said.