Orissa wants Tatas to use Gopalpur land acquired 13 yrs ago

The Orissa government will ask Tata Steel to set up proposed coal-to-liquid (CTL) project at Gopalpur in Ganjam district to utilise the land acquired by the company about 13 years ago, state Revenue Minister S N Patro said today.

"I have asked secretary in the Industry Department to ask Tata Steel to set up its proposed CTL plant at Gopalpur," Patra said here.

Tata Steel and South Africa-based Sasol Synfuels Pvt Ltd have expressed desire to set up 3.6 mtpa CTL plant in the state with an investment of Rs 48,000 crore.

About 3,800 acres of land was acquired by Tata Steel in 1997 for setting up a mega steel project in the area. About 1,570 families of three villages were displaced. The land, however, remained unutilised for about 13 years as locals opposed it and the company postponed the project.

Although the company has decided to utilise the land by setting up a multi-purpose Special Economic Zone (SEZ), no progress has been made in this project.