PARADIP: FIRs have been filed against 18 persons of Gobindpur, Nuagaon and Gadkujang villages by the local administration at Abhayachandpur police station for reclaiming betel vine lands that were earlier acquired for Posco steel plant. The villagers had tried to plant betel vines in the lands.
After the recent decision of Posco to withdraw its project from Jagatsinghpur, people who had lost their betel vines have been trying to reclaim their land for cultivation of betel vines. Sources said 60 betel vine losers had mended their betel vines illegally on the land acquired at Gobindpur.
Collector Bijay Kumar Upadhaya said the re-occupation of the acquired land is illegal and hence, administration has decided to take action against them.
Following a direction by the Collector, the Ersama Tehsildar lodged FIRs against the 18 persons.