The Posco Steel Plant construction in the Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha has been halted as discussions over a rehabilitation package for affected settlers still have to be finalized.
The Rs52,000 crore project plant's land was acquired but the construction of the boundary wall is still to be done. Ten betel vines were already uprooted and about 600 other trees were felled in the Gobindur area for the construction.
According to Additional District Magistrate Paradip Surjit Das said, "The land acquisition process will continue on Monday with dismantling of old betel vines and felling of trees by two teams."
The district administration has already shelled out Rs12.5 lakh to individuals whose betel vines were uprooted while Rs6.35 lakh was disbursed for the clearing of the trees to start the construction.
There have been protests from both supporters and opponents of the project and as such, the land acquisition work was suspended last April 30.
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