Orissa's land acquisition slow, says Irani

The Orissa government has been lacking in initiative on land acquisition for the many steel projects in the state, said J J Irani, director, Tata Sons.

Speaking to Business Standard, Irani said the state government should take necessary measures to ensure land acquisition and infrastructure for the projects was put in place. He noted the state was greatly endowed with natural resources. It is unfortunate, he said, that the government had not been able to deal with the land problems.

Irani declined to comment on the status of Tata Steel’s projects in Orissa and whether the company will be responding to the government’s request to provide ‘milestones’ (progress reports) on it. The state government’s steel and mines minister, Raghunath Mohanty, had asked all the 14 mega companies that had signed an agreement for investments to provide milestones on their respective projects and to take steps to start construction at the earliest.

The minister had expressed unhappiness over the lack of progress of the Special Economic Zone project of Tata Steel at Gopalpur and non-use of the land given to the company at Nayagarh in Keonjhar district. 

Tata Steel had signed an agreement with the state government for erecting a six million tonne steel mill at Jajpur and required 3,500 acres for the purpose. State-owned Industrial Developmental Corporation of Orissa allotted 3,040 acres in four phases.