People Turn down Posco Rehabilitation Package

Giving a jolt to Posco project, people who are to be displaced by $12 billion steel plant being set up by the South Korean firm have turned down the rehabilitation and compensation package offered to them, reported IANS.

Headed by Posco Pratirodh Samiti, agitators burn copies of the package on Sunday, report said.

“The package which was announced by Posco has cheated those who were supporting it. We call upon those who are supporting Posco to come forward to oppose Posco to save the natural resources of this locality,” Abhaya Sahu, the leader of Samiti, which has been holding a protest near Balitutha of Orissa’s Paradip district since January 26, has been quoted as saying.

It should be noted that it is not just agitators who rejected the package, but even supporters of the steel major, said report.

Report said that the United Action Committee (UAC), considered to be pro-POSCO, expressed its displeasure over the package announced by Posco.

“We are not against industry but the company should address the demands of the local people. Betel vine farmers should be properly compensated,” Tamil Pradhan, a member of the UAC, was quoted as saying.

However, Posco officials said that the company had announced the package according to the rehabilitation package of the state government and that it would be satisfactory to all parties, said report.

“We are hopeful that the package would satisfy everyone. We are clueless about what more can be done,” Simant Mohanty, general manager (external relations) of Posco, was quoted as saying.

The announced package involves a compensation of Rs.7,000 per decimal for the loss of land meant for betel vines, Rs 1 lakh per acre for prawn farms and Rs75,000 per acre for cultivable land.