Jajpur: Former Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei has urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take immediate steps to reopen the Mideast Integrated Steels Limited (MISL) plant at the Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex in Jajpur district. In a letter to the Chief Minister Tuesday, Ghadei noted that MISL was the first steel project set up at Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex by the MESCO Steel Group in 1993. He said over 200 families from Khurunti, Siaria, and Nanagobindapur villages in Sukinda and Danagadi blocks of Jajpur district lost 650 acres of land for the steel plant.
In addition, the state government also allotted 150 hectares of iron ore mines in the Barbil sector of neighboring Keonjhar district for the plant’s captive consumption. “Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) had provided a soft loan in the form of a steel bond to set up the plant. The Centre also provided a dedicated railway line to augment MISL’s production and productivity,” Ghadei wrote.
However, he expressed concern over the plant’s closure. “It is a matter of great concern that despite all cooperation, MESCO Steel authorities closed the plant and stopped production since February 12, 2020, resulting in more than 2,000 workers losing their livelihoods, both directly and indirectly,” he said. Ghadei added, “When your government is taking proactive steps, like the previous government, to invite investors and establish new projects for employment and revenue generation, the case of this closed industry and the untold sufferings of retrenched workers’ families should not be overlooked.” He requested the Chief Minister to intervene and take steps for the immediate reopening of the plant in the larger interest of the displaced families, who have been rendered jobless and landless.
