PPSS condemns Odisha govt’s ‘clandestine’ move to hand over Khandadhar mines to Posco

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 8:

Reacting sharply to the Odisha government’s recent move to back South Korean steel major Posco’s claim over the Khandadhar iron ore mine in Sundargarh district, well known anti Posco outfit Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti(PPSS), has termed it as a “clandestine operation”.

In a press release issued today the PPSS spokesperson Prashant Paikray said it was condemnable that this was happening “at a time when nothing is clear about the mining project and when thousands of tribals are protesting against handover of their precious natural resources to anyone for mining.”

The release has taken exception to the recent letter written by the Naveen Pattnaik government to the Union Ministry of Mines to grant Prospective Licence (PL) to POSCO in Kensara, Bhutuda, Rantha, Batagaon Soreikala, Lusi and Raisuan villages of Khandadhar mines in Sundargarh district for a period of three years.

“Against this unwarranted letter, the indigenous people of Sundargarh district under the banner of “ Khandadhar Suraksha Sangram Samiti” are continuing their democratic protest. The stunning silence of political parties is a matter of concern for people in that region,” the release said.

“We came to know from the media that with the support of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), the state’s land acquisition agency, the Hyderabad-based Centre for Management & Social Research (CMSR) is going to conduct the socio economic survey for POSCO’ in our villages. Our villagers are determined not to allow any survey team in our area. We do not understand why the government is making socio economic survey in spite of our repeated “NO” for establishment of any project in the Gram Sabha (Village Council),” said the PPSS release.

The release also alleged that the state government has once again unleashed repression in the Dhinkia-Nuagaon area at the proposed Posco site and trying to terrorise people by slapping false and fabricated cases against PPSS activists.