Educate villagers on Posco benefits: Official

PARADIP: The villagers of Dhinkia and Gobindpur are yet to be convinced about the benefits of Posco steel project and the  socio-economic development thereof, so State government machinery should instead create awareness among the locals, said Utkal Bharat president Kharabela Swain here on Friday.At a press meet, Swain said he supports the project that will contribute to the socio-economic development of the affected villagers. Villagers of trouble-torn Gobindpur and Dhinkia are still in dark about the future and development, so my party has  come forward to educate them on these issues.He alleged that the villagers have been brainwashed by outsiders about Posco and are oblivious of the real benefits.Swain said that he has requested the Chief Minister to visit Gobindpur to understand the apprehensions of the locals and resolve the crisis.  The district administration officials should also meet the villagers in a confidence building exercise, he added.He slammed the Left parties, the BJP and the Congress for adopting double standards on Posco project.  “Naveen should not surrender to vested groups and clear encroachments from Government land,” he said.He also informed that since villagers of Naugaon and Gadkujang panchayat have been convinced that the project will usher in progress and development in the region, the land acquisition there went off smoothly.