Tata Steel commits Rs 40 cr for CSR at Gopalpur park

Tata Steel proposed to invest about Rs 33.50 crore on environment protection and Rs 40 crore towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities for its industrial park coming up at Gopalpur.

The steel firm plans to set up a 400,000 tonne per annum (tpa) rebar mill, 55000 tpa capacity high carbon ferro-chrome plant and a sea water desalination plant with a capacity of 1.2 million gallons per day on around 450 acres of land at a cost of about Rs 800 crore.

The company is the anchor investor for the industrial park which is being set up on around 3000 acres. The steel maker had originally acquired this land in mid 90s to set up a steel plant, but later shelved the project.

During the public hearing conducted today at Chamakhandi, about 25 km from here, the company said, it has already conducted the Environment Impact Assessment and prepared the Environment Management Plan for the projects.

The company proposed to devote 34 per cent (155 acres) of its total plant area (450 area) to green cover.

The proposed project would provide employment to about 1000 persons during construction stage and about 430 persons during operation stage.

Most of the displaced persons who participated in the public hearing, were, however, not convinced about the assurance of Tata Steel and demanded higher compensation for their land lost for the steel project based on the present market value.

“We had given our land at Rs one lakh per acre at that time, but the present market value of the land is around Rs 20 lakh per acre. We want to be paid higher compensation based on the present value value of land from the company”, said Srinivash Reddy of Sindhigaon.Reddy along with around 800 families in five villages-Sindhigaon, Patrapur, Mansurekota, Badapur, Kalipalli were displaced for the Tata Steel's shelved steel project.

"We have lost everything with the hope of a mega steel plant coming up in the area. Our condition is not good today and we are not convinced by the company's assurances”, said Raju Jena, one of the land losers.