File picture of sand digging for boundary wall at Posco project area

Paradip, July 23: Angry villagers stalled excavation work for erecting boundary wall of the Posco steel plant project today following protests.

When the private company engaged in constructing boundary wall resumed trench digging at Noliasahi-Polang border of the project, local residents marched towards the spot and forced the workers to return.

“The exercise was going on smoothly. However, it was stopped midway as some unruly local elements objected to the work,” said Surajit Dash, Paradip additional district magistrate.

Jivan Lal Behera, a resident of Noliasahi village said: “People’s protest was peaceful. We refrained from resorting to violence. People here are opposing the project-related work. Their opposition is justified. The rehabilitation and resettlement measures are yet to be implemented for those who have lost livelihood. The betel vines labourers have also not received a single penny from the government agencies”.

Earlier, people stalled the boundary line demarcation and trench digging work on July 19 following angry protest. The local residents had gone on the rampage and stopped the excavation. After beating up the employees and labourers of the construction company the mob had damaged the excavator machine.

Utkal Manufacturing and Services Ltd, a private construction company is carrying out the excavation. None of the government agencies are directly involved in the work. The state-run Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), which has acquired the land for the steel project, is however supervising the work.

“The trench-digging work has been peaceful so far. We are ready to extend security to the private farm. But they are yet to make request for police deployment at the excavation spot,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Satya Kumar Mallick.

After finishing the land acquisition process on July 4, Jagatsinghpur district administration had resumed the trench digging work since past fortnight for erection of boundary walls at the eight million tonne per annum Posco steel project site near Paradip. About 1,500 metres of excavation of boundary line has been completed.

“The trench digging work will continue and we expect to finish it within a month. About 1,903 acres have already been transferred to the steel company while the rest 797 acres is now owned by IDCO. In due course of time, it will be transferred to the steel company,” said an official.

In the coming days, the project-related ancillary works will resume with people’s consensus. The ground-levelling work and dismantling of sand dunes within the project area would be carried out. Felling of trees, which has been suspended, will also restart after the National Green Tribunal vacates the stay on it, added Mallick.

Simultaneously, the administration is intent on resolving pending grievances of people residing in project villages. There are points of differences over the rehabilitation and resettlement issues. The issue would be settled amicably, he added.