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Exactly six years after the Korean steel giant Posco signed a MoU with the Orissa Government for its Rs 52,000-crore 12-MTPA project, the mega venture remains mired in uncertainty.
As the anti-steel plant agitation gains momentum, both Posco and the Orissa Government have vowed to push ahead with the project in Jagathsinghpur district.
The country’s biggest single FDI project till date has been beset by stiff protests from local communities against land acquisition. As if that was not enough, Posco’s MoU with the State Government is get to lapse.
Despite obtaining a green clearance from the Union Environment Ministry, the project remains grounded in view of large-scale protests against land acquisition.
“We are committed to the Orissa project. We are hopeful and very optimistic about the plant,” the Posco India Vice-President, Mr Vikas Sharan, told PTI over phone.
About renewing the MoU, he said: “you have to ask the Orissa Government on this matter.”
The MoU was inked with the Orissa Government in June 22, 2005 but no headway has been made since then.
The Pohang-headquartered steel major was to build a 3-million-tonne capacity steel plant, blast furnace or finex route during the first phase in Paradeep between 2007 and 2010 and expand the final production volume to 12 million tonnes. The entire project requires 4,004 acres of land.
Posco will now have to sign a fresh MoU and though the Naveen Patnaik Government has an investor-friendly image, it remains to be seen how proactive the State Government is in the present circumstances when protests are at their peak.
“We are very optimistic over the Korean project. A committee is examining the issue of renewing the MoU after the environmental clearance,” the Orissa Steel and Mines Minister, Mr Raghunath Mohanty, told PTI.
“Protest is a common phenomenon. Besides, Posco is the biggest single FDI venture in our country. We are always ready to face any kind of pressure for the benefit of local communities as well the state,” he maintained.
The Environment Ministry last month gave final clearance to the 12 million tonnes per annum plant with certain conditions, including ensuring that the tribal rights and forest protection laws are observed.
The protests are not going to end any time soon as noted social activists, including Swami Agnivesh and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, are now lending their support to the agitators.
“What is happening at the proposed project site is completely illegal. The land acquisition should happen only after proper dialogue with the local communities,” said Ms Patkar.
Accusing the Chief Minister of adopting a callous attitude towards local community, she asked, “Why can’t Naveen come down to Dhinkia for the people while he rushes to Delhi for talks with the South Korean President for the Posco project?”
“Why are you using the police to beat up villagers for a foreign company? Is not it illegal to acquire the land of farmers without their consent? The State Government and the Centre have no right to acquire land at gunpoint,” Ms Patkar said.
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