At a time when Tata Steel is dithering on the location of its proposed Rs 45,000-crore coal to liquid (CTL) project in Orissa, the displaced persons of the steel maker's Gopalpur project have invited the company to set up the CTL project at Gopalpur.
The displaced families including Goplapur MLA, Pradeep Panigrahi want Tata Steel to utilize about 3800 acres of land at Gopalpur for the CTL project. This land was acquired by the steel major in 1997 to set up a mega steel plant and about 1570 families in three villages were displaced.
With the company later shelving the steel project, it proposed to set up a multi-purpose Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on this land. However, no progress has been made so far. “It is the right time for the state government to ask Tata Steel to utilize the land at Gopalpur by setting up its proposed CTL project”, said Panigrahi.
Panigrahi who hails from Patrapur village belongs to one of the displaced families of Tata Steel's Gopalpur project. The two other affected villages are Sindhigaon and Badapur.
Tata Steel and South Africa-based Sasol Synfuels Private Limited have announced to set up a CTL project in the state. The project needs 3000 acres of land but the location is yet to be finalized. B Muthuraman, vice chairman, Tata Steel and Ernst Oberholster, managing director, Sasol Synfuels International Pvt Ltd had called on the state chief minister on Monday in connection with the project.
“Almost all the infrastructure facilities are available at Gopalpur for the proposed CTL project. While road, rail and inland communication facilities are available in the area, the water required for the plant could be drawn from the river Rushikulya or Chheligada by constructing the barrage”, said Ramesh Gouda, one of the displaced persons.
Hemant Kumar Rath, another displaced person said, “establishment of the CTL project at Goplapur will help in giving justice to the displaced and affected families through creation job opportunities for them.”
