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Rallies for and against POSCO held

BHUBANESWAR: The battle lines were clearly drawn as those supporting and opposing the proposed mega steel project of POSCO-India showed their strength in Erasama Block of Jagatsinghpur district of the State on Thursday. However, the meeting by the project supporters and a dharna by the protestors at Balitutha passed off peacefully.

The meeting in support of the steel project was organised under the leadership of local legislator and former Minister Damodar Rout. Around 4000 villagers from the hamlets facing displacement as well as nearby villages came in processions and attended the meeting.

While the pro-POSCO meeting was held on one side of Mahanga river, hundreds of villagers opposing displacement due to the proposed steel project staged a dharna under the banner of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) on the other side.

Heavy police arrangements were made to prevent any untoward incident during the meeting. Anti-POSCO activists prevented Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police R.K. Sharma from entering Dhinkia village when he tried to go to the area to facilitate arrival of the supporters of the project at the venue of the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Dr. Rout urged the people to come forward in support of the steel project saying that the project would be beneficial for the people in the region.

President of the Sangram Samiti Abhay Sahu termed the public meeting of the project supporters as gathering of the ruling Biju Janata Dal. A majority of those who attended the pro-POSCO rally were brought from far off areas, he alleged.

The 12 million tonne per annum capacity steel project has been facing opposition from the villagers united under the banner of PPSS.

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