Protesting tribals talks with Orissa CM

Bhubaneswar, June 14 (ANI): Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday held talks with leaders of a tribal group protesting against the setting up of South Korea's POSCO steel plant in the region.

The 'POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti' claims that the 12 billion dollars steel plant would displace a large population and lead to a loss of livelihood for tribals.

Patnaik assured that he would visit the concerned area once the survey work was completed.

"They have agreed that the survey work will be continued in the area and will continue peacefully," he said.

POSCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2005 for the plant, which was to be built in three phases by 2016, with production scheduled to begin by the end of 2011 upon completion of the first phase.

The steel-maker requires 4,000 acres of land, of which 2,900 acres is forested.

Final clearances for acquiring the forested land have been given, but there has been little progress in land acquisition on account of the protests. (ANI)