BHABANESWAR: The resistance to the 12 million tonne mega steel project of POSCO-India has gained momentum with different opposition political parties extending their support to the villagers opposing the venture.

The opposition parties have come forward to support the people's movement against the steel project following heavy police deployment in the area during the past days.

Despite the State Government clarification that police had been deployed to improve the law and order situation in the area, the organisation opposing the steel project have expressed apprehension that the exercise was aimed at terrorising the villagers.

Attacking the Naveen Patnaik Government for its pro-corporate attitude, the Orissa unit of the Communist Party of India on Thursday demanded that the additional forces deployed in Kujang area of Jagatsinghpur district be withdrawn immediately.

Addressing a press conference on their return from a visit to the proposed POSCO project area, senior leaders of the party criticised the State Government for its "anti-people" stand on the issue.

The party will organise a massive protest rally in the project area on April 17 to extend its support to the villagers of the three gram panchayats of Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang who were facing displacement for the project.

"It is high time that the Government realised that the POSCO project was not in the interest of the State," joint secretary of the party's State unit Prabhat Mishra said.

The State unit of the Congress also extended its full support to the agitation by the locals in Jagatsinghpur against the POSCO project which is proposed to be developed into a Special Economic Zone.

`Withdraw police'

Addressing presspersons at Congress Bhavan here, Pradesh Congress president Jayadev Jena said the Government should make serious efforts to avoid acquiring agricultural land for the steel project. He also demanded withdrawal of police from the area.

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition J. B. Patnaik had on Tuesday warned the State Government not to repeat a Kalinga Nagar or Nandigram in Jagatsinghpur.

Meanwhile, tension continued to prevail in the three gram panchayats as the authorities started making preparation for the public hearing being organised by the State Pollution Control Board with regard to the steel project on April 15.

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