Jairam Ramesh cuts short programme, anti-Posco brigade to hold dharna

Demanding withdrawal of environmental clearance to Posco's proposed mega steel unit, residents of the plant site villages opposing the project today resolved to stage a dharna during Union environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh's two-day visit to Orissa.

Meanwhile, official sources said Ramesh has cut short his Orissa visit drastically and would only visit Gupti in Kendrapada district where he is to release a map on shoreline change and review the progress of World Bank-funded Rs227 crore ICZM project.

"We will stage a dharna at Balitutha tomorrow seeking withdrawal of environmental clearance to Posco project. The dharna will be held to draw attention of the union minister who is coming on a two-day tour to the state," Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) president Abhay Sahu said.

Though the people supporting Posco project have invited the union minister to visit the proposed plant site villages, PPSS activists said they have already apprised Ramesh about their situation.

Ramesh is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow to review the progress of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP). However, the union minister who was earlier slated to visit Similipal Tiger Reserve, has cancelled his proposed trip there on April 30, official sources said.

CPI which was backing the anti-Posco agitation since the South Korean steel major signed MoU with the state government five years ago, was planning to submit a memorandum to the union minister demanding scarping of the project.

Other parties supporting the cause of villages like CPI(M), Forward Bloc, RJD and Samajwadi Party were also planning to submit a joint memorandum to the minister.

Opposing Ramesh's visit, Kalinga Juba Sena, youth wing of a fringe political party, staged a demonstration and burnt the minister's effigies for allowing Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.