BHUBANESWAR: Even as the villagers opposing the POSCO steel project in Jagatsinghpur district have created barricades and cut off the roads to prevent the police from entering their hamlets, the administration is still hopeful of creating a situation conducive for conducting repoll in 14 booths under the panchayat.

"We are continuing our discussions with the stakeholders and local politicians and we will certainly create a situation that will be conducive for conducting repoll in the area," Jagatsinghpur District Superintendent of Police J. K. Jethwa said on Saturday.

Polling had been cancelled in 14 booths in Dhinkia gram panchayat when the panchayat polls were marred in February due to clashes between the supporters and opponents of the POSCO project.

The villagers opposing the POSCO steel project have become apprehensive about police action following deployment of 12 platoons of police personnel in the area during the past few days.

The district administration is now making attempts to conduct the repolling in the hope that it would create a situation to ensure their smooth entry into the villages and interact with the locals to weaken the people's opposition to the steel project.

Criticism

Although the Government has come under criticism in the aftermath of police deployment, Mr. Jethwa said that if necessary those creating hurdles to smooth conduct of the repoll would be brought to book.

On the other hand, the State Government is also under pressure from the Central Government to facilitate implementation of the POSCO project. The Government has not been able to help the Korean company to acquire any land so far to begin construction work on the ground.

However, as the agitation against the steel project has gained strength following deployment of additional police forces, facilitating implementation of the steel mill project appears to be an uphill task. This because, the people facing displacement in three gram panchayats have now announced to oppose the project with full force.

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