POSCO proposes alternate land for betel vine cultivators

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 (UNI) In a bid to pacify the ongoing agitation against the Steel plant project,South Korea Steel major POSCO today announced a special Scheme of providing alternative land betel vine cultivators to be affected in the project.

POSCO had been facing a stiff resistance from the localpeople ever since it had signed the MoU with the Orissa government for setting up of a 12 MTPA steel plant in Paradip at an estimated cost of Rs.51,000 crores,the biggest FDI in the country.

The anti-POSCO agitators had sealed the area proposed for the plant and prohibited the entry of the both government and POSCO officials demanding shifting of the project site.

Determined to go ahead with the propose project,the POSCO which had already formed its subsidiary as POSCO-India,today announced for relocation of Betel Vines to all those who would lose their land for the project.

A POSCO release here said the company had decided to provide alternative land to betel vine growers cultivating on the government land so that they could continue Betel Vine cultivation as means of livelihood.

As per the Scheme, suitable land, approximately 200 acres required for betel vine cultivation would be provided within or outside the POSCO-Indiaproject area.This apart,adequate assistance would be provided to them for restarting their main source of income.

The company had identified the land in at least three places as alternatives for relocation.Currently, Bayanal Kandha, Bhuyanpal, parts of Dhinkia and Banapata Kandha are being actively considered as potential areas for relocation for betel vine cultivation.

POSCO-India was contemplating to conduct its long awaited Socio-Economic Survey at the earliest and ascertain the betel vine status within the project area.

A detailed relocation plan would be formulated in collaboration with the Orissa government well as with the betel vine cultivators.

POSCO-India Chairman cum Managing Director Soung-Sik Cho said the relocation option would enable both the betel vine farm owners and their employees to retain their livelihood in line with their specialized skills of betel vine cultivation.

The company would also make all possible efforts to ensure that the betel vine cultivators were not only relocated properly but also enjoyed a better environment by all means, Mr Cho said.

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