Orissa government today said it would seek people’s support for the implementation of mega projects, including Rs 51,000 crore proposed steel plant to be set up by South Korean firm Posco.
Though worried over the delay in implementing the Posco project, the state government said peoples’ support is foremost for setting up any mega project.
“Our policy of peaceful industrialisation is applicable to all the proposed projects, including the one by Posco,” steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said.
“Posco project will be implemented with the support of the people and not against their wishes,” chief secretary T K Mishra told reporters here.
The state government’s views came a day after the Centre expressed concern over the delay in implementing the Posco and ArcelorMittal’s proposed steel plants with 12 mtpa capacity each in Orissa.
Mishra who chaired the secretary-level review meeting on Posco project yesterday, said efforts were on to convince the agitating people to support setting up Posco’s greenfield project.
Hopeful of convincing the people in favour of the project, the chief secretary said they would be offered an acceptable rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package to allow setting up of the mega steel plant.
Though Posco-India signed MoU with the state government on June 22, 2005, for setting up a 12 mtpa steel mill near Paradip over 4,004 acre, it failed to acquire required land due to stiff opposition from the local farmers and fishermen under the banner of the CPI-backed Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS).
At yesterday’s meeting, Mishra said he took views of the home secretary, director general of police (DGP), director of intelligence and other officials on the possible visit of South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak in January.
A senior official said police officers and home department officials had advised the state government against Lee’s visit.
The government would keep a watch on the peoples’ mood at the ground level before giving green signal on the possible visit of Lee, sources said.
The much awaited Rehabilitation Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting scheduled next month would, in fact, take a decision on whether to allow Lee’s visit to the proposed plant site in villages near Paradip.
