Jindal Steel project in WB on hold, farmers to get land back
Adding to the West Bengal government woes, Jindal Steel on Monday informed the state government that it intended to return the 294 acres of land that it had acquired from farmers, since the project has been put on hold.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the state secretariat, “Farmers who had given away their land for the project have been in a fix as they haven’t been able to use the land, and at the same time the project didn’t take off. They will now get their land back.”
The Salboni project has run into a series of delays ever since its inauguration in 2008, when former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya narrowly escaped a Maoist IED attack. The Lalgarh movement by the Maoists had followed soon after.
The Trinamool Congress, which has long been demanding the land back, seems elated. Mamata said, “It is a very positive gesture by the company as they have expressed willingness to return the land to the farmers.”
The group, so far, has invested Rs 700 crore in Salboni. JSW Bengal, the subsidiary of JSW Steels, had three coal blocks in Raniganj area for the project, which are now no longer with the group. The group, however, has expressed their wish to restart the project as soon as they get the coal block.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the state secretariat, “Farmers who had given away their land for the project have been in a fix as they haven’t been able to use the land, and at the same time the project didn’t take off. They will now get their land back.”
The Salboni project has run into a series of delays ever since its inauguration in 2008, when former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya narrowly escaped a Maoist IED attack. The Lalgarh movement by the Maoists had followed soon after.
The Rs 35,000 crore integrated steel, power and cement project of JSW Group –touted as the biggest investment proposed in the state – is now ‘officially’ on hold.
The Trinamool Congress, which has long been demanding the land back, seems elated. Mamata said, “It is a very positive gesture by the company as they have expressed willingness to return the land to the farmers.”
The group, so far, has invested Rs 700 crore in Salboni. JSW Bengal, the subsidiary of JSW Steels, had three coal blocks in Raniganj area for the project, which are now no longer with the group. The group, however, has expressed their wish to restart the project as soon as they get the coal block.
