Demolition of betel vines and cutting of trees as parts of the land acquisition process for the Posco steel project near here are in progress without any obstructions from anti-project villages.
The district administration has claimed to have acquired almost the entire lands required for the project and earmarked the area for construction of boundaries.
However, the administration has not paid any compensation for 24 demolished betel vines claiming that these vines were just new. This has created resentment among a section of villagers.
The pro-Posco villagers have also alleged that though the administration has paid compensations to the betel vine owners, it has not done anything substantial in respect of giving employment to land losers as part of the rehabilitation package.
While the land acquisition is in progress, there was no resistance from the anti-Posco brigade. In spite of several attempts, Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) president Abahy Sahoo and general secretary Sisir Kumar Mohapatra were non reachable for their comments.