Posco: UAC makes U-turn, to Cooperate

PARADIP: The decision of the pro-Posco outfit, United Action Committee (UAC), to cooperate with the administration in the land acquisition process may have come as a relief for Posco and the district administration but it is the villagers, supporting the project, who feel let down and are fuming at the fast changing stand in the UAC.UAC, which had staged a dharna at Gadkujang last week demanding fulfilment of their six demands, decided to cooperate with the land acquisition process after talks with the district administration.The villagers who had hoped for a sizable offer and compensation from the Posco Company after the discussions, claim to have been taken for a ride by the outfit. The villagers alleged that the UAC members meekly surrendered to the administration ignoring their interests.On Saturday and Sunday UAC conducted village meetings, padayatra and motorcycle rallies at Nuagaon and Gadkujang panchayats during which they sought villagers’ cooperation to boycott the land acquisition process after 32 of their members were arrested last week. They were later released.But, on Monday, a meeting with District Collector Narayan Jena at Gadkujang saw a change in their stand with UAC president Anadi Rout deciding to cooperate after the administration promised to be liberal in the measurement of betel vines.  UAC secretary Nirvay Samantray said the administration’s commitment to fulfil their demands after talks with the Revenue Divisional Commissioner on May 30 compelled them to cooperate with the  administration.