Kendrapada: Large number of villagers of Gobindapur in Jagatsinghpur district’s Dhinkia panchayat on Thursday opposed cutting down of hundreds of trees in their village to build the boundary wall for the proposed 10 MTPA steel plant.
“The state govt has no right to hand over 2,900 acres of land to any company as the govt acquired the land for Posco (a South Korean steel giant) eight years back.We are determined to oppose establishment of the steel plant,” said Babaji Rout of Gobindapur. “Posco project had been shelved. We want no other plant and want our land back,” said Prakash Jena of Gobindapur.
Sambit Rout, additional district magistrate (ADM) of Jagatsinghpur, said, “The company has acquired 2,677.80 acres of land in Jagatsinghpur district for its integrated steel plant. The company had also received environmental clearance from the Union ministry of environment & forest and climate change, which was re-validated in September last year for which the company is cutting trees to build boundary walls. Villagers have no right to oppose the felling of trees.”
Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, DFO, Bhitarkanika National Park, said officials cut the trees after getting permission from the forest department for the proposed steel plant project. Security has been tightened in Gobindapur to check and law and order situation.

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