Curation Team
BHUBANESWAR: A second housing committee meeting, chaired by deputy speaker, focusing on replacing the resettlement and rehabilitation scheme of 2006 with a new policy was held here on Wednesday.
After the meeting, revenue minister Suresh Pujari said many private industries acquired more plots than needed and could not utilise them properly, even after 10-15 years.
“Additionally, several industries acquired land to establish operations but their projects made no progress even after more than five years. The revenue department has instructed all district collectors to report on investors or entrepreneurs who have not established industries despite acquiring land and those using the allotted plots for illegal purposes. Govt plans to reacquire such land following all legal procedures,” he said.
The meeting also highlighted that 154 new MoUs have been signed with private investors to establish industries. MoUs have been signed for Rs 12 lakh crore in capital investment, with an expectation of an additional Rs 17 lakh crore. The concern is that without enough land, establishing industries will be challenging. Therefore, land will be acquired from significant encroachers.
To realise chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi‘s vision of a developed Odisha, a separate department will address issues related to industrial establishments.
Pujari said, “We are also considering addressing problems arising from large-scale industrialisation. There will be a focus on environmental sustainability and balancing industrialisation with environmental concerns.”
Officers have been tasked with preparing a draft for the new rehabilitation and resettlement policy. Five sub-committees, which will include MLAs, will study the plan.
