Posco: NHRC probes rights violations

PARADIP: Villagers of Dhinkia sought a day’s time to submit land documents regarding settlement of forest land to the visiting members of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). While the villagers expressed ignorance about the team’s visit, the tour programme was reportedly sent to the district administration about 15 days back.   The NHRC team led by its special rapporteur Damodar Sarangi on Thursday visited the proposed Posco plant sites in Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchayats and investigated violations of human rights during land acquisition for the proposed project. The team also inquired about allegations of forcible demolition of betel vines.  The villagers said their forefathers had been living here since 1930 and hence, they can claim rights over the forest land under the Forest Rights Act. Under the Act, land can be acquired only with the permission and proper compensation to traditional forest-dwellers.  Despite their claims over the forest land, the Ministry of Environment and Forests gave clearance to the State Government to acquire the forest land, Dhinkia villagers alleged. Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti (PPSS) president Abhaya Sahu said the 1930 Record of Rights and settlement maps described the area as forest and betel vines. The Maddox settlement report of 1890 said the area was famous for forest and betel vine cultivation, he added.PPSS also submitted a memorandum to NHRC  alleging use of hired goons by the State Government to expedite the project work  despite protests from the  villagers.  The recent tussle between villagers of Dhinkia and workers engaged by Posco featured in the discussion. The villagers alleged that a woman of Dhinkia village was arrested on Wednesday in a false case. Sarangi met Sabita Mandal who had lost her husband, Dula Mandal in a bomb attack by pro-Posco activists at Gobindpur in 2008. He also interacted with betel vine growers here.    Sarangi also visited Nuagaon and Noliasahi under Gadakujang panchayat. He met the 52 pro-Posco families at Badagabapur transit camp who had fled their village fearing a backlash.   Special Land Accusation Officer Nrusingh Swain accompanied the NHRC team.