Friday was a day of mixed experiences for the world’s two leading steel makers — Tata Steel and Pohang Steel Company (Posco) of South Korea.
Tata Steel, laid the foundation stone for its proposed six-million-tonne project at Orissa’s Kalinga Nagar plant at Ambagadia after a five-year long battle.
It will have an investment of Rs 15,000-crore. There was no opposition from the Bisthapan Virodhi Jana Manch (BVJM), a tribal dominated local organisation that has been spearheading the movement against displacement in the region.
On the other hand, the Posco Pratirodh Sangaram Samiti (PPSS) led by its president, Mr Abhaya Sahoo and Mr Jagatsinghpur, Lok Sabha member, Mr Bibhu Prasad Tarai organised a massive rally at Gobindpur near Paradip and gave a fresh call for opposing the South Korean steel major’s proposed 12-million-tonne project.
Unlike other days, no police personnel were seen at the Kalinga Nagar area on Friday. The surprising element of the low-key foundation stone laying ceremony was that the rituals were performed by local tribal priest Laxman Jamuda.
Mr Chakradhar Haibru, who recently quit BVJM and received compensation for his land acquired by Tata Steel, attended the function.