The Posco boundary wall construction at Dhadhi Bamanpada hamlet near Mathasahi village under Nuagaon Panchayat resumed on Monday for the third consecutive day.
Though the people’s resistance opposing the boundary wall construction did not surface, both the anti and pro-project supporters were on marathon meetings and still undecided how to continue their stir.
“The Posco authorities have approached the administration, seeking help for the ongoing construction works. Moreover, we have received complaints from both anti and pro project people of the locality about the construction works and are examining the correctness of the
complaints,” informed a senior civil administration officer.
Reports said that Posco had awarded one Cuttcak- based construction firm to resume the construction work of boundary line with the help of local contractors. Meanwhile, the assigned construction firm has distributed the contract works among seven groups, known as forest committees functioning at the locality.
Responding to the construction firm’s endeavour, Dhadhi Baman Jew forest committee had undertaken the construction work in Dadhi Baman Pada near Mathasahi on Saturday and received some success.
However, the work was disrupted on Sunday following a few local residents protesting the demarcation of the boundary line. The work resumed on Monday without any
disruption.
On the other hand, a few forest committee members and residents of Nuagaon Panchayat had converged at Nuagaon headquarters and discussed the ongoing Posco boundary wall construction. Many of the attending villagers had expressed displeasures on the event and said that Posco had ignored the demands of the affected people and was moving ahead with the steel plant without a valid Memorandum of understanding (MoU).
They questioned the very legality of the operation as environmental permission was still pending at the National Green Tribunal court.
Sources added that the villagers of Gadakujnaga Panchayat had converged in a meeting and vehemently opposed the Posco’s ongoing boundary wall construction and resolved that they would not allow the construction work in their locality
until Posco cleared legal sanctions and fulfilled their demands.
The anti Posco outfits have warned to stop the work of boundary line if the administration did not interfere.