PARADIP: Irate villagers of Nuagaon staged a dharna on Saturday at the construction site of a boundary wall on abandoned Posco project land. The construction work by Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has been stalled after the villagers filled up the trench by using soil. They warned the construction agency against constructing the boundary wall without fulfilling their demands.
Despite frequent reminders and agitations, nothing has been done to fulfil the demands of the Posco-affected villagers, they alleged. Villagers of Nuagaon, under the banner of Sangaipai Village Forest Committee, said during digging of trench, several trees were felled by the construction agency.
Sangaipai Village Committee president Arjun Mohapatra said, “We had intensified stir protesting the construction of boundary wall last month. The administration had committed to fulfil our demands after discussions with higher officials, but nothing has been done even after one month of our agitation.”
Earlier, Posco had committed to pay compensation of `17 lakh per acre for agricultural land while a compensation of `11.5 lakh per acre was fixed for betel vine, but these are yet fulfilled, the locals said.
Last week, the villagers had demolished the newly constructed boundary wall in Nuagaon. Police sources, however, said some miscreants damaged the boundary wall as they were not able to get contract work. Police are investigating into the incident.
Additional Tehsildar, Erasama, Ajaya Kumar Mohanty said, “The activists of Sangaipai Forest Committee have submitted memorandum seeking fulfilment of their demands. The administration will hold a meeting with the affected villagers to fulfil their genuine demands. They have sought the cooperation of villagers to expedite construction work of boundary wall.”