The Posco must be forced to make a formal announcement to completely withdraw from its Odisha project immediately. The Government should hand over all the land occupied for the project back to the villagers and recognise their land as per the Forest Rights Act-2006.
This was demanded by the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) here on Wednesday.
PPSS spokesperson Prashant Paikray said police have turned the area into a repressive colony. After inflicting severe physical injuries on old and young people, they have slapped numerous fictitious cases against many people and sent them to jail.
He further alleged, “The police do not receive FIRs of the people; rather misbehave with women and men who come to the police station with complaints. Currently, two villagers are languishing in the jail. Over 420 false cases have been lodged against the villagers and warrants have been issued against over 2,000 people, including 300 women. Due to the warrants, the villagers are not able to venture out of their homes.”
The anti-Posco body demanded that the Government withdraw all false and fabricated criminal charges against the villagers immediately.
“The Government needs to replant the trees in the sensitive coastal areas, where more than two lakh trees were cut down for the Posco project. Proper and adequate compensation should be paid by the Government to the widows and children and the injured family members attacked by goons in 2008 and 2013,” the PPSS further demanded.
Notably, the recent hearing of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 8 has revealed that the Posco project’s environmental clearance is valid till July 19, 2017.