Odisha govt not to return 2700 acres of acquired land back to forest dwellers, "reserves" it for industry

Construction around forest dwellers' land

By A Representative
In an unusual development, the Odisha government has decided not to return 2,700 acres of land it had acquired from forest dwellers for the multinational corporation, Posco, for its land bank for “future industrial purpose”, one reason why it has begun constructing a boundary wall around it.
The development takes place even as Posco has begun the process of handing over the 2,700 acres of land acquired by the Odisha government for setting up 12 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) steel plant at an investment of Rs 52,000 crore. it was recently forced to abandon the project on losing legal battle to the local forest dwellers.
Odisha’s Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), one of the foremost NGOs which campaigned for the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 and its implementation, said, the Odisha government is “forcibly raising boundary wall over forest land acquired for Posco”.
In a statement, CSD said, the land belongs to the forest dwellers, and it for them, living in seven villages in Jagatsinghpur district, to decide on what to do with the land.
According to CSD, the withdrawal of Posco from the site is due to “consistent resistance of the local people led by Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), and after Posco’s withdrawal, the Odisha government should respect the sentiments of the local people.”

“FRA, 2006 recognizes Gram Sabha as Gram Sabha Sarkar over forest land, and since all the 2,700 acres of land the Odisha government is said to have been acquired for Posco is revenue forest land, falling within the revenue boundaries of seven affected villages, it should be recognized as community forest resource under FRA”, CSD insisted.
So far different official committees – including the Saxena Committee and the Posco Enquiry Committee – have found that FRA has been violated in the Posco area. Besides, on several occasions, the gram sabhas of the area have passed majority resolutions against any handover of their lands.
According to reports, the Odisha government's High Level Clearance Authority has decided to hand over the 2,700 acres land, acquired through Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO) for Posco, to JSW Steel Limited.
“For ten years the people of the area have been struggling against the illegal seizure of their lands. If it hands these lands over to Jindal Steel instead of Posco, the government will be committing a further criminal offence under the FRA, 2006”, SCD said.
CSD convenor Gopinth Majhi said, “The government keeps claiming that the people in these villages support these projects. If so, why has the government not recognized their rights and taken the consent of the affected gram sabhas, as required under FRA? Why has it ignored all the majority resolutions passed by gram sabhas against any handover of these lands?”
In May 2013, the National Green Tribunal, taking a view on the cyclone sensitivity in the area, asked the Odisha government to stop Posco felling of around 200,000 for implementing its steel project. However, Posco decided to withdraw from the project in March 2017 after it lost legal battle.

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

Budget 2026 focuses on pharma and medical tourism, overlooks public health needs: JSAI

By A Representative Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India (JSAI) has criticised the Union Budget 2026, stating that it overlooks core public health needs while prioritising the pharmaceutical industry, private healthcare, medical tourism, public-private partnerships, and exports related to AYUSH systems. In a press note issued from New Delhi, the public health network said that primary healthcare services and public health infrastructure continue to remain underfunded despite repeated policy assurances.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

The Epstein shock, global power games and India’s foreign policy dilemma

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The “Epstein” tsunami has jolted establishments everywhere. Politicians, bureaucrats, billionaires, celebrities, intellectuals, academics, religious gurus, and preachers—all appear to be under scrutiny, even dismantled. At first glance, it may seem like a story cutting across left, right, centre, Democrats, Republicans, socialists, capitalists—every label one can think of. Much of it, of course, is gossip, as people seek solace in the possible inclusion of names they personally dislike.

Gujarat No 1 in Govt of India pushed report? Not in labour, infrastructure, economy

By Rajiv Shah A report by a top Delhi-based think tank, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), prepared under the direct leadership of Amitabh Kant, ex-secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India, has claims that Gujarat ranks No 1 in the NCAER State Investment Potential Index (N-SIPI), though there is a dig. N-SIPI has been divided into two separate indices. The first one includes five “pillars” based on which the index has been arrived it. These pillars are: labour, infrastructure, economic conditions, political stability and governance, and perceptions of a good business climate. It is called N-SIPI 21, as it includes a survey of 21 states out of 29.

Planning failures? Mysuru’s traditional water networks decline as city expands

By Prajna Kumaraswamy, Mansee Bal Bhargava The tropical land–water-scape of India shapes every settlement through lakes, ponds, wetlands, and rivers. Mysuru (Mysore) is a city profoundly shaped by both natural and humanly constructed water systems. For generations, it has carried a collective identity tied to the seasonal rhythms of the monsoon, the life-giving presence of the Cauvery and Kabini rivers , and the intricate network of lakes and ponds that dot the cityscape. Water transcends being merely a resource; it is part of collective memory, embedded in place names, agricultural heritage, and the very land beneath our feet. In an era of rapid urbanization and climate-induced land–water transformations, understanding this profound relationship with the land–water-scape is strategic for sustainability, resilience, and even survival.

Search This Blog