File picture of Posco boundary wall construction

Paradip, Jan. 7: Tension mounted in the Posco steel project area today as people stalled the construction of a boundary wall.

People from Gadakujang area opposed the construction as they felt that the steel company and the state government had let them down by relegating their interest to the background.

The protesters, mostly displaced families of Nolia Sahi, Polang and Bhuiyanpal, are angry at the non-revision of rehabilitation and compensation package.

Inspector of Abhayachandpur police station Anirudh Routray said: “Some residents in Gadakujang area protested against the construction of the project boundary wall. The private company, which is carrying out the work, has lodged a complaint in this regard. The matter is being investigated. No case has been registered in this connection. Police are holding talks with the people to amicably settle the dispute.”

Local resident Jeevanlal Behera, who led the protesters, said: “We are not against the proposed project. We are upset with the dilly-dallying attitude of both the government and the steel company.”

Protest meetings to stall the project work were also held in places such as Gadakujang, Nuagaon and Gobindpur.

People are demanding revision of compensation and rehabilitation measures, United Action Committee leader Nirvaya Samantaray.

After the land acquisition process was over on July 4, the steel company had resumed the boundary wall construction work last month, but often met with people’s resistance.

“As the land acquisition process is over, our emphasis is on construction of the boundary wall. The work is being done with cooperation of local residents. However, a some people with vested interest are trying to sabotage the work,” said general manager (construction), Posco, S. N. Singh.

“We have asked the company to engage local people in the construction. A meeting of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee would be convened shortly to settle the relevant issues,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick.