Dhinkia villagers protest in Bhubaneswar against the proposed Posco steel plant in Jagatsinghpur. (file picture)

Paradip, Sept. 16: The anti-Posco movement virtually underwent a split with the vice-president of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) offering his land for the steel project.

The PPSS has been spearheading the movement against the proposed Posco steel plant project for the last six years. Acquisition of private land for the project had to be stalled several times because of their agitation. The district administration has not yet been able to acquire substantial areas of private land for the project to be spread over 4,004 acres.

Officials today said Vasudev Behera, vice-president of the anti-plant outfit, had offered to give away his land for the project. Three of his relatives have also parted with their lands.

Behera, however, was not available for comments. On the other hand, PPSS president Abhay Sahu said he was not aware of any such development. The administration has acquired a little over three acres of private land in Polang village near Noliasahi under Gadakujang gram panchayat from landowners who expressed willingness to give away their land. A sum of Rs 53 lakh was paid as compensation to them, said officials.

“The landowners volunteered to give away their land. More landowners from Polang are also willing to give away their land for the project,” said special land acquisition officer Nrusingha Charan Swain.

Out of 4,004 acres required for the steel plant project, 437.68 acres belong to private individuals. The administration has taken possession of only 15 acres of private land during the week.

Out of the rest land, around 2,900 acres fall under forest category, for which the Union environment and forest ministry has accorded its clearance for diversion.

Questions, however, are being raised on the legitimacy of the acquisition process keeping in view that Orissa High Court had recently ordered status quo on the acquisition of private land by the state government for the steel project.

“We are yet to receive any direction from the high court with regard to status quo on private land acquisition. Therefore, there is no illegality in private land acquisition,” said Swain.

The steel project has been stuck in periodic protest. Since past fortnight, no project-related work has made headway in the proposed project villages as people have been demanding revision of compensation of Rs 17 lakh per acre for private land.

Besides, the United Action Committee, a pro-plant outfit, has put forth six-point charter of demands, which include revision of compensation for betel vineyards and homestead land, subsistence allowance to betel vine labourers, and guaranteed employment to land-losers and local residents.