Jajpur: Large tracts of land acquired for establishment of industrial units in Kalinganagar in this district are lying idle, a report said.
Reports from the district administration said over 8696.748 acre of land have been handed over to several industrial units for establishment of their plants. The irony is that many of the firms which had acquired large tracts of land are lying closed now.
As a result, over 23,000 casual labourers and 4000 regular employees working in these firms have lost their livelihood during the last five years.
Out of this land, 3347.346 acre belongs to forest category, 608.407 acre of government land and 4640.475 acre of land of common people. The state government is also facing severe revenue loss with the land lying unutilised.
Reports said four industrial units have acquired 193.97 acres of land over the last five years but are yet to establish their plants. Moreover, three major firms which had established their plants on 3155.68 acre of land are lying closed now.
Take the case of Mesco group. This firm had acquired 2500 acre of land 24 years back in Kalinganagar for establishment of its steel plant in the name of Mesco Kalinga Steel Ltd. The firm had acquired the land through IDCO, a state government-owned unit. However, IDCO served a notice to Mesco in July, 2003 after it failed to establish its steel plant.
The matter then went to the court of law and the state government got possession of the land in 2019 after a prolonged legal battle. However, the land is lying idle even as many firms interested to establish their plants are leaving the state after failing to get land.
Mesco had planned to produce 7 MT hot rolled coil, wire rod and bar and light section through its plant at Kalinganagar. The state government handed over 2500 acre of land including 1250 acre belonging to 100 farmers stretching from Jakhapura village to Ravana Square in Kalinganagar. Most of the farmers who lost their lands were from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.
These gullible people were lured with the promise of jobs in exchange of their land. However, Mesco established a separate plant on 530.68 acre of land at Manpur-Gobindpur. The plant became operational in August 1996 which helped Mesco acquire two mines in Joda mining division. However, this plant is lying closed for the last three years rendering over 500 permanent and 400 casual workers jobless.
Similarly, Jessica Metalics Ltd acquired 90.92 acres, CJ Darcel Logistics Ltd acquired 10 acres, Chettinad Cement Ltd acquired 83 acres of government and private lands. However, these firms are yet to make any move on establishment of their plants.
Meanwhile, firms like Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NINL) which had acquired 2500 acres, Mid-East Integrated Steel Ltd which has acquired 530.68 acres and Maithan Ispat Ltd which has acquired 125 acres are lying closed for the last three years after running for a period.
As a result, land is becoming scarce for other industries which have applied before the state government for establishment of their units in the region. Reports said that over 50 small and big firms have applied for establishment of units in Kalinganagar.
Under this scenario, the goal of the central and state governments to make Kalinganagar a steel capital and create employment opportunities for locals seems to be distant.
As part of the state government’s rapid industrialisation programme, several acres of lands have been acquired over the last 30 years for establishment of industrial units in this district.
It is alleged that the district administration while acquiring lands of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people has violated the Odisha Land reforms Act. The additional district magistrate (ADM) is in receipt of such complaints from time to time.
When contacted, Kalinganagar ADM, Santosh Kumar Mishra, said that discussions have been held with some firms and soon they will hand over their acquired land.
PNN
