POSCO confident of making the project happen
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POSCO is quite confident of making the project happen inspite of protest against project from various quarter in Orissa. In an Exclusive interview with odishatoday.com's M Narasingh Rao on friday Mr. Gee-Woong Sung, Executive Director, POSCO-India Pvt. Ltd. said POSCO is quite confident of making this project happen with people's participation. He put emphasis on the company's CSR policy for the people of Orissa. |
Gee-Woong Sung: There has been a steady rise in support for the project in our proposed plant site. There is some misunderstanding among the community regarding the project and this is the main reason for whatever resistance in the area. This misunderstanding is due to intentional spreading of rumors by certain vested interests, who resort to awful methods of using threat and penalty to the villagers, causing hindrances.
Hence, we are constantly trying to disseminate true and factual information to the community, so that they can understand our project as well as the potential benefits. The opening of the dialogue of the people will help the company in observing the real reactions of the villagers, so that effective measures can be taken, rather than forceful displacement, which is detrimental to the interest of the villagers as well as the company.
Odishatoday.com: Did you have any thought ever in your mind that such situations can surface?
Gee-Woong Sung: Mega industrials project do face such problems in land acquisitions in most cases all over the world.
Odishatoday.com: Have you any concrete plan to take up any special programme to educate the locals about the benefits of the steel project?
Gee-Woong Sung: Our focus would be to disseminate factual information and clarify their misunderstandings. Our new GM (R&R) have already started direct discussion with to be affected people of the project.
Odishatoday.com: Do you think Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will help you in this regard? What are the plans you have, so far as CSR is concerned?
Gee-Woong Sung: CSR is our strategy for sustainability and providing better living to one and all. It is a mean for us to understand the community as well as to contribute to society at large. POSCO has a very good tradition of contributing to the society and its social contributions have been recognized by various international agencies, including Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Odishatoday.com: What will be your plan to acquire encroached government land?
Gee-Woong Sung: The company will provide suitable compensation as well as alternative livelihood as per the R&R Policy of Orissa Government.
Odishatoday.com: Have you finalized the locations for the rehabilitation colony, rehabilitation packages for the families facing displacement?
Gee-Woong Sung: POSCO-India has already announced that it will provide suitable rehabilitation, as per the R&R Policy, 2006 of the government of Orissa, which is considered as one of the most favourable policy for displaced people in India. We have our own plan ready for the rehabilitation colony, with all essential amenities. However, detailed rehabilitation package and plan for rehabilitation colony would be prepared after completion of the socio-economic study and in consultation with the RPDAC.
Odishatoday.com: What do you expect the Orissa Government to do at this point of time?
Gee-Woong Sung: Since the intent of Governmnet of Orissa is serious and honest in honouring the MOU. The district administration is also working very hard to facilitate this project.
Odishatoday.com: Will you consider shifting the project site to any other place, if you find the land acquisition process and people's protest tough?
Gee-Woong Sung: We have selected this site area with due consideration of several factors, important for steel work and found out that this is the most suitable one, meeting all our requirement.
Odishatoday.com: Many people speculate that the POSCO project may face the fate (never came to reality, even after 12 years) of TATA STEEL'S Gopalpur project. What do you want to say?
Gee-Woong Sung: We are aware of the hurdles ahead of us, but are confident that we will make this project happen.
Odishatoday.com: In case of further delay in implementation of the steel project, what will be POSCO-India's stance?
Gee-Woong Sung: Our spirit is still high and we will do our best to make this project happen.
Odishatoday.com: Thank you very much Gee-Woong Sung
Gee-Woong Sung: Thank you
