Padyatra against corporate invasion of Orissa’s coast

Photo Credit : Venkatesh.L

Dhinkia: Hundreds of farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers and the women of villagers affected by the corporate invasion of coastal Orissa kicked off a historic seven day long protest padayatra today from Dhinkia, 68 kms from the state capital Bhubaneshwar.

“This is a warning to the Orissa government and corporations not to underestimate our resolve to resist any attempt to grab local resources and displace villagers” said Abhay Sahu, leader of the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) inaugurating the padayatra, which will traverse 120 kms between Paradip and Puri.

The PPSS has been at the forefront of the resistance to the US$12 billion project, with investment from the South Korean steel giant POSCO, which proposes to build a steel plant, thermal power station, a private port and carry out mining of iron ore. The project, which has not been able to take off due to the local people’s opposition to land acquisition, will -if implemented- result in the displacement of over 30,000 villagers in this rich agricultural and fishing belt.

Reacting to news reports that the South Korean President had been invited to be the main guest at the upcoming Republic Day celebrations on January 26 and might visit the site of the POSCO project also Comrade Abhay Sahu said that it is better if the President cancelled his trip instead of wasting his time trying to enter the project area.

The padyatra has been supported by almost all the major anti-mining, anti-diplacement movements around Orissa and is the first instance in recent times that such a unity has been achieved cutting across other ideological or identity barriers.

Photo Credit : Venkatesh.L

“There is a new solidarity against forced displacement of people by corporate activity that is emerging in Orissa and this padayatra will help consolidate this” said Prashant Paikray, another leader of the PPSS. It is planned to hold public meetings all along the route of the padayatra to mobilise local folk and raise awareness among them to the damage to livelihoods that will occur due to the various mega projects that are proposed along this stretch of Orissa’s coast.

Among the organisations participating in the padayatra is the Vedanta Vishwavidhyala Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti which is opposing the acquisition of 6000 acres of land for purportedly building a university by Vedanta, a UK based company that is also involved in a controversial bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri.

“Why should a university need 6000 acres? This is enough land to build a township which must be the real intention of the company speculating in real estate” said K.P.Sasi, documentary film maker from Bangalore here to show support to the anti-displacement movement.

Among the organisations that are participating in the padayatra are the Jatadhar Bacao Andolan, Ersema ; Devi Muhan Surakhya Samiti ; Prakrutika Sampada Surakhya Parishad, Kucheipadar; Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti ; Vistapan Virodhi Janmanch, Sukinda; Paschima Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti ; Mittal Virodhi Manch ; Hirakud-Rengali Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti ; Akhaya Das, Jala Surakhya Jan Manch ; Lok Shakti Abhiyan ; Lok Sangram Manch; Jiban Jibika Surakhya Samiti ; Natabar Sarangi, Prachi Chasi Meli ;Gana Sangram Samiti, Ganjam; Sidheswar Anchalika Surakhya Committee, Naraj ; Odisha Jana Adhikar Mancha ; Odisha Forest Majdoor Union ; Basi Surakhya Manch ; and the Rajdhani Basti Unayan Parishad , Bruhat Mumbai satkari samghatan, Students from Delhi University and JNU and activists from Differents parts of the country

Related posts:

1. Press Release of Fact Finding Team: POLICE TORTURE ON ANTI-POSCO PEOPLE
2. Press Conference in front of POSCO