Industries seek redressal of land issue

Protracted problems in land acquisition, availability of raw-material, supply of power and water are among others causing inordinate delay in implementation of various projects in the state.

This was highlighted by the representatives of different companies in a review meeting chaired by the steel and mines secretary in the state secretariat, here, today. The government assured the industries for steps to mitigate their problems. It will also initiate measures to expedite the process of revalidation of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) whose timeline has expired because of delay in project implementation. “The industries have pointed out the problems pertaining to land acquisition, availability of raw-materials, power supply and water allocation. We are initiating measures to take care of these problems”, Ashok Dalwai, secretary, steel and mines told the media on the sidelines of the review meeting.

Twenty three industries were invited on the first day of the two-day review meeting. They included Posco India, Essar Steel Orissa, Tata Steel, Jindal Steel ans Power, Bhushan Steel, Arcelor-Mittal, Sterlite Iron and Steel Company, Welspun Power and Steel and OCL Iron and Steel.

Adhunik Metalliks, Surendra Mining Industries, Sree Metaliks Patnaik Steel and Alloys, Deepak Steel and Power, Beekay Steel and Power Cracker India and Orissa Sponge Iron and Steel Ltd attended today’s review. This will continue tomorrow with 24 more industries expected to take part in it. The availability of raw-material assumes importance as the alleged multi-crore mining scam has cast its shadow on the state owned Orissa Mining Corporation, which is the main supplier of iron ore and chrome ore to the metal-based industries.

Few weeks ago, Kalinga Nagar Industries Association located at the Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex, had urged the state government to ensure the supply of raw materials for their units. Non-supply of raw material, they warned, will force them to close their units.

Representatives from water resources, revenue, energy, forest and environment departments along with representatives from the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Ipicol), Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Central zone and Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) participated in the review meeting.