Take opposition into confidence: BJP

BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Wednesday demanded consultation with the Opposition political parties before finalising the revised MoU with South Korean steel major Posco. Since many provisions in the lapsed MoU are against the interest of the State, the revised MoU should be prepared keeping the interests of the State as well as the public opinion in view, Senior BJP leader and former Industries minister BB Harichandan told a media conference here.   ‘’Under no circumstances Posco should be allowed to swap 30 per cent of iron ore, establish captive port within the purview of the special economic zone (SEZ) and draw water from the Mahanadi for the steel plant,’’ he said and warned that his party will oppose tooth and nail if the Government surrendered before the company. Alleging that the ongoing land acquisition for the company is illegal, the BJP leader said the company had no existence without any agreement or understanding. The MoU between the Government and Posco for setting up 12-million tonne capacity steel plant lapsed on June 22 last year. How could the Government acquire land for a non-existing company, he wondered. The people of Orissa had great hope that the Centre would take some concrete action on the Posco project. But the way the project got clearance from the Environment and Forests Ministry with certain conditions, sacrificing the interests of the State, had clearly indicated that the Centre had shown undue favour to the company and the Naveen Patnaik government had surrendered to the company, he remarked. ‘’From day one the BJP has been opposing permission to the company to have a captive port at Jatadhari confluence close to the Paradip Port. This will have  adverse impact on Paradip port and will affect the environment as the Jatadhari confluence is witnessing soil and sea erosion over the years,’’ he said. The captive port, the BJP leader said, would operate within the SEZ boundary and the State Government would have no control over the imports and exports from the port. The Government should find water source other than the Mahanadi for the steel project as water from the river is essential for irrigation and drinking water purposes.