Anti-Posco brigade opposes Baliamara bridge work

PARADIP:  After a lull, anti-Posco activists were back protesting the proposed bridge at Baliamara under Gadkujang panchayat on Wednesday. Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS) activists led by its president Abhay Sahu began the protest rally at Nuaratanpur village under Kunjkothi panchayat and later congregated at Sahada Math near Baliamara.The 123-metre-long bridge on the Baliamara rivulet from Posco area to Ersama would facilitate work on the proposed steel plant. The earlier proposed coastal road at Bose Callis point near Paradip was stalled following stiff resistance from villagers of Dhinkia.Over 200 villagers of 10 panchayats, including a few CPI leaders, attended the PPSS meeting. They warned the State Government against acquisition of 700 acres of land at Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadkujang.Sahu said PPSS had earlier opposed construction of a wooden bridge at Baliamara in 2007 and had held 10 labourers hostage. The administration had then accepted their demand and moved the timber from the spot. The labourers were released two days later following an assurance from the administration that no work would be carried out here in future, he added.The administration officials, however, said the stir would not affect the Posco work, adding that the proposed project is garnering more support with every passing day.