By A.K.Sahu
Bhubaneswar, July 9: The Orissa government on Thursday announced special package for people who are going to be displaced by the proposed 12-million-tonne Posco project near Paradip in Orissa’s Jagatsinghpur district.
According to the new package, Rs 17 lakh will be given for each acre of private land while Rs 11.50 lakh will be compensated for every acre of betel vine.
Similarly, Rs 2 lakh will be given per acre of prawn gheri (farm) .
Speaking to reporters after the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Meeting held at Jagatsinghpur collector’s office, central range Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Mr P.K. Mohapatra said each displaced family will be provided 10 decimals of land and Rs 1.66 lakh house building assistance.
Each joint family unit will be given a 443 sq feet house.
“The new compensation package has been prepared keeping in view of the demands made by the local people. Apart from monetary compensation, the package includes capacity building programme and job for the displaced families,” the RDC said.
The announcement of the new package aims at getting support of the local people who have been resisting the Rs 52,000-crore integrated steel project since 2005.
Meanwhile, CPI leader Ramakrushan Panda said there was no point in announcing the package “when the local people are not in favour of the project.”
“Where does the question of package come from? Posco has signed memorandum of understanding with the state government on June 22, 2005. The document has expired its time. I fail to understand why the government is so desperate about a project like Posco,” Mr Panda said.
