The Hindu Business Line : POSCO plant: US NGO keen on rehabilitation of affected families

International Watch, a US-based NGO, has come forward to join hands with the Orissa Government for proper rehabilitation of the families who would be affected by the 12-million-tonnes steel project of Korean steelmaker, POSCO.

The organisation, which had last year announced its decision to work for the people affected by the POSCO project, has also decided to increase the funds for rehabilitation of those facing displacement by the project from $5 million to $20 million (about Rs 88 crore), according to Mr P.N. Kutty, Executive Trustee.

Even as the POSCO project is facing opposition from the people in Jagatsinghpur district, the organisation has registered its Indian wing, International Watch Society, in New Delhi and opened an office in Bhubaneswar.

It has also submitted its rehabilitation and resettlement proposal to several Central Ministers, the Chief Minister Mr Naveen Patnaik, and the POSCO authorities.

A team has also made visits to the proposed site in Jagatsinghpur and interacted with the local people.

"International Watch Society's objective is to set an example for others to follow as far as the resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected people are concerned, particularly the oppressed sections of the society," Mr Kutty told Business Line. "We are advocating land for land for those who would be affected by the project. Once the villagers are provided the land, we will work through the Orissa Government to implement our proposal."

He added: "The resettlement and rehabilitation work will be for the entire population living within the area to be acquired and not just the losers of private land.

The emphasis will be on providing urban amenities to the affected families. The Society will also prepare income generation packages for the affected people with a full support system."

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