Land acquisition for the Rs 52,000-crore Posco steel plant was resumed on Monday in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district after a three-day break but had to be abandoned mid-way following protests by anti-Posco activists.
Land acquisition involving demolition of betel vines and felling of trees, which had been suspended since April 26, resumed at Gobindpur village near Paradip, a senior district administration official said.
However, only three betel vines could be demolished and 20 trees felled with payment of Rs four lakh to land losers as the administration suspended the work for the day following demonstration by anti-Posco activists, sources said.
In the face of resistance by villagers belonging to Dhinkia panchayat, considered the epicentre of the anti-Posco agitation, the administration decided to stop land acquisition operation for the day, they said adding that the work would be undertaken tomorrow.