The Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) on Monday slammed the Union Government for bringing land Acquisition (Amendment) Act-2013 ordinance recently.
“We strongly condemn the decision as the mandatory ‘consent’ clause and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) will not be applicable if the land is acquired for five purposes, including industrial corridors and building social infrastructure on PPP mode. It is clearly to appease the interest of corporate forces at the cost of life and livelihoods of farmers,” PPSS spokesperson Prasant Paikaray said in a Statement.
Besides, he also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his reported assurance to South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the East Asia Summit vis-à-vis establishment of Posco project at Paradip.
“It is not a surprise to see the double standard of BJP as many of its leaders had opposed handing over Khandadhar mines to Posco during election campaigning and the Central Government led by it is now extending tactic support to the mining project,” he said.
Paikaray further alleged that police are still arresting anti-Posco activists indiscriminately.