Work on Coastal road to begin from November

PARADIP: A day after the Chief Secretary BK Patnaik asked Posco authorities to begin work on the acquired land, IDCO CMD Priyabrat Patnaik held a meeting with the Jagatsinghpur district officials here on Friday.During an interaction with the District Collector Narayan Chandra Jena, Paradip Additional District Magistrate Surjeet Das  and SP S Devdatta Singh thrust was laid on starting a rehabilitation colony, felling of betel vines of willing growers in the trouble-torn Gobindpur village and beginning construction work of coastal road on the outskirts of Dhinkia. The district authorities on their part highlighted issues that have been impeding the land acquisition process.  Despite protests, the Jagatsinghpur administration managed to acquire 37 betel vines in June at Gobindpur village and disbursed `8.25 lakh to six land losers while 31 refused to receive their cheque alleging forcible   acquisition.In a fresh development, nearly 70 villagers of Gobindpur, whose betel vines were not pulled down in June, have submitted letters stating their willingness to hand over their land. It has been decided to go ahead with the felling work with police protection to prevent intervention by anti-Posco activists. The IDCO CMD also stressed expediting the construction of coastal road from the first week of November which has been stalled by the anti-Posco activists for nearly a month.  Patnaik also reviewed the land acquisition process for the solid waste plant where nearly 15 tonne garbage would be disposed of.  Sources said Rs 15 crore would be spent for the project spread over eight acres. Troubles do not seem to end for the project with the anti-Posco leader Abhay Sahu threatening to intensify the stir if the Government went ahead with land acquisition and construction of the coastal road.   The SP warned that action would be taken against those trying to interfere in the development works.