Bhubaneswar, June 18 (ANI): Land acquisition by the Orissa government for Posco's mega steel project in Jagatsinghpur District could not be resumed for the second day on Saturday due to heavy rains.
"Like yesterday, heavy rains prevented acquisition of land today also. Our teams were ready, but work could not be started because of rains," said Additional District Magistrate, Paradip Sarojkanta Choudhury.
The acquisition, which was halted for five days since Sunday because of the local 'Raja' festival, could be taken up on Monday if weather permits.
Meanwhile, police forces have been deployed at the site to prevent any untoward incident in view of protest by anti-Posco activists.
Earlier, Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty said: "We are not acquiring land forcibly for the Posco project. Land acquisition work is being done peacefully by the district administration and Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (IDCO)".
Posco had signed a memorandum of understanding with Orissa in June 2005 for the 12-million-tonne-capacity steel plant to be built in three phases by 2016, with production scheduled to begin by the end of 2011 at the completion of the first phase.
However, from 2005, continuous local opposition delayed the project amid allegations the Union and state governments had been illegally trying to acquire land and forests for the project. (ANI)
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