The West Bengal government today handed over letters of allotment and permissive possession certificates to 13 investors.
The land—which adds up to just about 1250 acres—was acquired by invoking the Land Acquisition Act.
The rehabilitation package, evolved after the Singur fiasco, included land-for-land for the land owners, compensation for owners, bargadars and agricultural labourers.
Of the 1250 acres, Shyam Steel Metallics and Jai Balaji, account for 75 per cent of the land allotment.
For Jai Balaji, the state had already handed over 1,130 acres earlier. Tractors India, Megatherm Transmission and Distribution were given 104 and 10 acres respectively in Vidyasagar Industrial Park in Kharagpur. In Sahachowk Industrial Area in Kharagpur, Mittal Ferrocast and Radix Electrocast were given 11.92 acres and four acres, respectively. Five other companies were given land in Rishi Bankim Shipaudyan in Naihati (North 24 Parganas) and Salt Lake. One company was given space at Manikanchan special economic zone in Salt Lake.
The land, which commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen, said was critical for industrial projects, have stringent timelines.
“The agreements specify timelines for the projects. There are milestones after the first six months,” Sen said.
However, it was not clear, whether the government would recall the lease if the companies missed the timelines. “If there are genuine reasons, how can we stick to it,” Sen asked in response to questions from mediapersons.
Commenting on JSW Steel’s proposed steel project at Salboni in West Medinipur, Sen said, discussions were held with company officials. “Construction of the plant will start from March 2011. Right now, they are working on the township,” he said.
JSW Steel got permissible possession of 90 per cent of the land in 2007, and purchased the balance from land owners.
