OJM chief writes CM not to give SEZ status to Posco

BHUBANESWAR: Rajya Sabha member and Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) chief Pyarimohan Mohapatra urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a letter on Saturday not to allow Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status to the Posco Company to give undue benefit to the foreign company in the renewed MoU.

The OJM chief said that there was no justification to allow a captive port for Posco and that, too, within a short distance of 8 km from Paradip Port. He requested Patnaik to withdraw the clause from the renewed MoU and to advise the company to negotiate with Paradip Port Trust (PPT) for necessary facilities.

He further suggested that since no Steel Company has been allotted a specific quantity of iron ore in their MOUs, the provision for allocation of 600 Million tons of iron ore to the company may be replaced by the standard clause used in other MoUs. “In the renewed MoU, please ensure that there is a clause for technology transfer, as otherwise the benefit of the FDI is not going to percolate on a long term basis,” requested Mohapatra.

The OJM chief demanded the State Government to add a provision in the renewed MoU to create at least one lakh employment by Posco by facilitating the establishment of Micro, Small and Medium Industries by the entrepreneurs of the State.

He also suggested the State Government to set up a Commission to go into the complaints of excessive use of force and human abuse by Government officials dealing with the Posco affected people and also urged Patnaik to ensure first rate rehabilitation facilities for the displaced people.