land acquisition for the Posco steel project near here was resumed on Monday after a three-day break but had to be abandoned midway 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, a senior district administration official said.
However, only three betel vines could be demolished and 20 trees felled with payment of Rs 4 lakh to land losers as the administration suspended the work for the day following the demonstration by anti-Posco activists.
After a brief lull, the anti-Posco brigade upped their ante and attempted to disrupt the land acquisition process. In the face of the resistance by villagers belonging to Dhinkia panchayat, considered the epicentre of the anti-Posco agitation, the district administration decided to stop land acquisition for the day. The work would again be undertaken on Tuesday. Official sources said.
The slogan-shouting protesters entered into the Gobindpur area from the east of Dhinkia panchayat. The administration appeared to be caught off guard as many opponents had changed their strategy by reaching the site much before the work for the day had commenced.
Ten platoons of police force comprising about 350 personnel were deployed in the area. District collector SK Mallick and SP Satyabrat Bhoi were present. However, no untoward incident was reported, official sources said.
Additional District Magistrate, Paradip, Surjeet Das said there was no reason to oppose land acquisition at Gobindpur because the lands of only those who had given their consent were being acquired. "We are not going to Dhinkia nor damaging betel vines in that area. There is no point in protesting demolition of betel vines of the owners (in Gobindpur) who had given their consent for the purpose," Das said.
After the work was stopped for the day, the opponents assembled near Patna Haat to chalk out their future strategy. "We'll intensify our protest tomorrow and prevent the administration from carrying out the process," Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) leaders said.
The present phase of land acquisition, which commenced on April 22, was temporarily suspended on April 25 during which 53 betel vines were dismantled and 500 trees felled with payment of Rs 71 lakh.