NIO team faces wrath of anti-POSCO agitation

Kendrapada, Nov 18 (UNI) A scientific team of Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) today returned without conducting any environment impact assessment survey for proposed Oil Refinery project owing to protest by anti-POSCO agitation.

The Ministry of Environment has entrusted the NIO to study and conduct a survey work on the coastal impact of Bay of Bengal near Paradeep for the Oil Refinery to be set up by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

The protestors, agitating against the steel plant by the South Korea steel major, POSCO, opposed the team to conduct survey work in the coast near Jatadhari river mouth.

According to official sources, it was decided three months back by the IOC and the Kujanga police that the NIO scientists would study the coastal impact by collecting sand and earth from the coast of Bay of Bengal from Paradeep port to Jatadhari river mouth.

The IOC had also intimated the matter to the Kujanga police and sought their co-operation in the survey work in the areas falling under the proposed POSCO site.

when the team led by R.P.Singh reached Kujanga police station to seek the help of police to enter into the proposed POSCO site, the police officials advised them not to enter into the site on the plea that they failed to negotiate with the leaders of anti-POSCO agitation in this matter.

Pro-POSCO supporters in the area alleged that the anti-POSCO agitation had created reign of terror in the area. They were obstructing the government officials to enter the area to undertake any work.

UNI XC-DP PC/src1924