PIL on Posco does not come up for hearing

A PIL seeking stay on the ongoing land acquisition for the Posco steel project in Jagatsingpur district did not come up for hearing in Orissa High Court today due to lack of time.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Indrajit Mahanty and S K Mishra had on May 26 adjourned the hearing after asking the petitioners to file fresh affidavit giving details on how they were affected by the land acquisition process.

The state government and Posco-India Ltd have already filed their counter affidavits.

Urging the HC to dismiss the PIL, the state government in its affidavit has stated that the land acquisition was for public purpose and not for a private company as contended in the petition.

Nishakar Khatua and five others of Govindpur village filed the petition praying for quashing forest clearance granted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for the project and to halt the land acquisition.