The Centre had sought written assurance from the state government on the implementation of the FRA before signing the proposal for diversion of forest land for the South Korean steel major's project.
Though a month has elapsed since the Centre accorded conditional clearance to the POSCO project, Orissa government finds it tough to submit its assurance to the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) on proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
While giving conditional clearance to the Rs52,000 crore project on January 31, the Centre had sought written assurance from the state government on the implementation of the FRA before signing the proposal for diversion of forest land for the South Korean steel major's project.
Chief secretary BK Patnaik had earlier told media that the state government would "positively" submit its assurance on the FRA to the Centre by February end.
However, the state government failed to meet the deadline due to some fresh claims made by local villagers of Dhinkia and Govindpur gram panchayat, official sources said.
"We are looking into the fresh claims to be settled under FRA. The state government will soon give its reply to the Centre regarding the FRA implementation," forest secretary Aurobind Behera said.
Of the 4,004 acres of land demarcated for POSCO project, about 2,900 acre falls under the category of forest land.
"The forest land must be converted into non-forest land before it is handed to the company for setting up the mega steel plant," a forest and environment department official said.
Meanwhile, the move of the project opponents have put the state government in a fix after the people of Dhinkia and Govindpur passed resolutions opposing the Posco project at separately held 'Palli Sabhas' on February 21 and 23.
"The Palli Sabhas held in Dinkia and Govindpur passed resolutions opposing Posco project. People facing displacement have made fresh claim under the FRA," Dhinkia gram panchayat sarpanch Sisir Mohapatra said.
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