Bardhan demands shifting of POSCO project

Bhubaneswar, Jun 21 (UNI) CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan today said POSCO-India should give up the idea of having its mega steel Plant at Paradip and suggested that it be shifted to a nearby place having less human habitation and barren land.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Bardhan said he was not opposed to the POSCO project, but it should not be allowed in Paradip displacing hundreds of people and acquiring fertile land.

The CPI leader said an ideal site would be just a few kms away from the present site where there would be less human habitation, no fishing ground and barren land where no commercial crops are grown.

The state government, the POSCO and the local people should sit together and work out the new site, he pointed out.

Mr Bardhan also opposed the captive mining in favour of the POSCO, stating that they should procure the iron ore from the state government undertaking Orissa Mining Corporation at the market rate for consumption of the proposed 12 million tonnes Steel plant.

The POSCO, he said, could negotiate the price and enter a deal with the OMC to procure ores for the plant.

The CPI leader also strongly opposed the POSCO's proposal to have its own minor Port at Jatadhari Muhan, close to Paradip Port, claimed it would have adverse impact on the economy of the existing Paradip Port.

He cautioned that Kalinga Nagar type incidents were bound to take place if the POSCO did not give up these three conditions and went ahead with its original plan.

UNI DP KK VD RN1638