Our consent must for any project: Villagers

PARADIP: Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti organised  a State-level workshop at Gobindpur under Gadakujang panchayat on Friday seeking public opinion on the National Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill. The workshop dealt with various issues to be included in the new bill for the benefit of displaced families and land losers.PPSS conducted the workshop at the dharna spot where affected villagers, elected representatives, anti-displacement leaders, politicians and experts aired their views on changes to be incorporated in the bill.  They were unanimous on the issue that consent of the affected villagers should be sought through Gram Sabha and Palli Sabha before acquiring land for Government and private projects.  It is learnt that Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has uploaded the draft seeking public suggestions by August 31.The draft bill highlights acquisition of land meant for the multi-purpose crop, while the farmers in rain-fed areas depend on a single crop for their livelihood. This also holds true even for Ersama, where the proposed Posco project is coming up. The villagers said such agricultural lands should be out of bounds for development projects.  Anti-displacement leaders stressed inclusion of zero displacement clause in new land acquisition bill.There was lot of discussion on how public purpose will be defined in this bill. The bill has been narrowed down  and included a new category infrastructure comprising power plants, ports, education, railways, highways, sports parks and irrigation.No land should be acquired for any project by superseding the Forest Rights Act for the protection of tribal and traditional forest dwellers, they said adding, landless families should be provided all facilities and privileges during the land acquisition process. These suggestion will be sent to the Ministry of Urban Development.  Lokshakti Abhiyan leader Prafulla Samantray said, “We want the affected villagers to come up with suggestions, which can be sent for drafting of the bill.” Sticking to its anti-Posco stand, PPSS leader Abhaya Sahoo said they would organise nation-wide congregation of anti-displacement leaders at Dhinkia against the project.