Kujanga as another Nandigram in Orissa

April 9: Kujanga, a village in Orissa’s Jagatisinghpur district may be the next Nandigram as the state government is likely to face stiff protest from the locals against the purposed South Korea’s POSCO steel project.

The state government plans to create Kujanga, near Paradip, as a part of the project and hence wants to buy land from the locals for the proposed Rs 52,000 crore steel plant. But the locals are not willing to move or sell their land and are now protesting against the government. The district administration on Monday ushered police forces in to the area, to avoid any kind of misfortune.

According to sources, police forces have been sent to the area and are having a series of discussion with the locals to remove the road barricades they have put up at several points to prevent the authorities from entering into the site. Keeping in mind a tight protest, the administration is planning to send more and more police platoons and even armed forces. However, the police will also try to avoid any kind of direct confrontation with the protesters and they will not want to repeat the Jan 2 incident.

Earlier, on Jan 2, last year, 13 tribal people were killed by Police persons at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district for a project proposed by Tata Steel. Later on the High Court ordered and the tribals agreed with the government. But after Nandigram violence and due to the efforts of several local societies like Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, there can be expected a strong protest over land acquisition.

The Posco project needs a total of 4,004 acres of land but till now the state government has provided only 1,135 acres, thereby delaying the project. Most of villagers are unwilling to give up their land and the most critical problem is that there are villages that are supporting the project thereby dividing the whole area and the opinion. Last month in a series of clashes between the supporters and opponents at least 50 people were injured.

In a recent development, the Steel and Mines Minister of Orissa, Padmanabha Behera assured that he would take all possible and peaceful measures and discuss with the local leaders and agitators. He is also confident to remove all hurdles within three months of what would be India’s biggest ever foreign investment.