Paradip, May 10: Protests affected construction of the Posco project boundary wall today but land acquisition continued smoothly.

“Anti-Posco protesters demonstrated at Patanahaat and digging of the trench could not be carried out there. However, the boundary wall work was carried out successfully at Mangalapada,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick.

“To give officials a break, the land acquisition process and boundary wall work has been stopped for three days. It will start again on Tuesday,” he said. Teams engaged in the land acquisition exercise today demolished seven betel vineyards and felled 345 trees for which Rs 13.11 lakh and Rs 4.45 lakh, respectively, were paid as compensation.

“The dismantling of betel vineyards and cutting of trees was a smooth affair because the owners willingly gave away their plots. We could not acquire more betel vines plots because of the sweltering heat and humidity,” said special land acquisition officer Sarat Kumar Purohit.

Supporters of the anti-plant, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), demonstrated at Patanahaat prompting the administration to suspend trench-digging work.

Sisir Kumar Mahapatra, the outfit’s general secretary, said: “Many landowners have parted with their land under coercive tactics employed by the administration. The betel vineyards are being demolished in the intimidating presence of police forces.”

“We support the project. We have extended a helping hand to the administration to undertake land acquisition. But our demands for proper rehabilitation and resettlement still remain. We want rehabilitation and other benefits, including jobs. The government has committed to take care of land losers. Now, it should keep the promise,” said Ranjan Bardhan, a resident of Gobindpur.

In the ongoing exercise, the administration claimed to have acquired about 400 acres. While the steel project needs 2,700 acres, the state-run Idco has already handed over 1,703 acres to the South Korean steel maker.