Idco to create land bank for industries

Odisha govt is in the process of acquiring about 1,000 acres of land in Remuna area in Balasore district

In a bid to provide litigation free land for industrial purposes, the state government has directed the state-owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (Idco), nodal agency for land acquisition, to create land bank.

"Idco has been asked to create land bank by acquiring lands in advance where there is scope for developing industrial hubs so that serious players can be provided land," said Surya Narayan Patro, state revenue minister at the Policy Round Table conference organised by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).

The state government is in the process of acquiring about 1,000 acres of land in Remuna area in Balasore district through Idco and a similar exercise is also being carried out in Korpaut, the minister said.

The land bank to be created by Idco will meet the requirements of the small, medium and large scale industries.

Big ticket projects like Posco, Arcelor Mittal, Sahara Power, JR Powergen are struggling to acquire land for setting up their units due to the local resistance.

Patro rued that the large tracts of land which were allotted to some non-serious players are lying unutilised for many years.

It may be noted that the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has recently flayed the state government for non-resumption of 7,585.78 acres which remained unused for more than three years.

It had pointed out that the land with present market value of Rs 675.08 crore was allotted to 18 industries that had signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government.

Speaking on the occasion, state steel and mines Secretary Rajesh Verma said that level playing field should be provided to industries to promote competition and healthy industrialisation.

The industry representatives opposed the state government's plan for formation of a cell within the state home department to check illegal mining. The cell is planned within the home department so that police personnel can be involved in checking illegal mining activities.

"The inspection by policemen without adequate knowledge may lead to harassment," complained Rita Singh, managing director, M ideast Integrated Steel Ltd, a Mesco group company.

A book "Naturenomics-4.0 (Optimising Biodiversity and Social Security in Indian Mining Areas - An Earthy Vision) was also launched on the occasion.