Report by Amarnath Parida; Jagatsinghpur: In spite of tense in Propsed Posco site, district has decided to expedite socio –economic and forest survey to be started within week in Nuagaon and Gadkujang panchyats while the activists of United Action Committee , a purportedly outfit Posco project has extended cooperation of local minister and legislator to streamline this survey work.

UAC has sought the cooperation of agriculture minister Mr Damodar Rout and local legislator Mr Prasant Muduli to discuss about the Posco packages and compensation in which minister Mr Rout who remained mum on Posco issue, has agreed to attend the meeting of UAC to be held within two to three days. UAC has conducted its meeting at Gadkujang on Wednesday in which all the villagers of affected people including elected representatives , village leaders and UAC leaders l attended this meeting to expedite survey work and to discuss about the Posco packages.

UAC president cum sarpanch of Nuagaon Mr Bhaskar Swain has been driven from his post for his anti organization activities on Balituha incidence. Mr Swain had sent hundreds of people who were the supporters of Pro Posco groups to Baitutha and extended their cooperation with PPSS movement. Meanwhile Mr Swain has been driven away and educationist Mr Anadi Rout has been nominated as president of UAC- said secretary of UAC Mr Nirvay Samntray.

Officials’ sources said that administration has formed six teams to start survey work in which six teams will be pressed for socio economic and betel vine survey while other two teams for forest survey work. Each team has five members with two revenue inspector, one amin and one peon under the supervision of either tahsildar or additional tahsildar. This team will start survey their survey work from 21st May in which they would verify last survey being conducted by administration in 2008 and assess the betel vine evaluation. After evaluation, compensation would give to the betel vine losers at door step. During survey, team will provide token to each beneficiaries for obtaining the compensation and packages.

Earlier, administration conducted survey in 2008 in which a total 803 families of eight villages will be displaced in which 333 families had been identified as extended families as per rehabilitation policy 2006. Out of 803 families, 131 families belong to Dhinkia village. Last survey report mentioned about existence of 1961 betel vine covering of 394.39 acres in the project site which includes 455 betel vines covering 85 acres in Dhinkia village. After scrutiny , survey estimated that a total of 1.05 lakh trees including 71.357 cashew tress, 4,087 coconut trees, 4.382 mango trees , 2.374 jackfruits, 418 chakhunda trees were present in the project area.

Special Land Acquisition Officer Mr Nrusingh Swain has expressed that the compensation of betel vine has been fixed Rs 10.000 earlier so finalization rate of compensation amount of betel vine and valuation of trees will be finalized once again before the start of survey. He informed that survey will start in Nuagaon and Gadkujang panchayts by verifying last survey report. This survey would continue for 15 days. – He add

Related posts:

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2. Lukewarm response to Posco’s compensation offer
3. Orissa halts Posco land acquisition