Rebuilding of betel vines: Posco lodges complaint

KENDRAPADA: Steelmaker Posco is worried over villagers recapturing betel vines acquired for its proposed facility in Jagatsinghpur district after receiving compensation.
The company on Tuesday lodged a complaint in Abhayachandrapur police station in this regard. Police registered cases against 18 people, mostly belonging to Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchayats.
"After receiving a complaint from Posco, we have registered encroachment cases against 18 people under Sections 447 (criminal trespass) and 426 (commission of mischief).The matter is under investigation," said IIC, Abhayachandrapur police station, Anirudha Routray.
The South Korean company spent Rs 21.75 crore for taking possession of 1,116 betel vines. The compensation money included Rs 5.75 crore towards acquisition of private land and trees in the area. "The state government acquired the betel vines for Posco at gunpoint. People were not happy. No one should feel surprised that the people have started rebuilding their betel vines," said Abhaya Sahoo, president of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, spearheading the anti-Posco agitation.
Jagatsinghpur collector S K Mallick said the administration has kept a close watch on the developments. "Some people with an ulterior motive are rebuilding betel vines. The district administration will soon convene rehabilitation and periphery development advisory committee meeting to sort out land acquisition,compensation, rehabilitation and other issues involving the project."