Prafulla Das
The Naveen Patnaik Government's ambitious plans could flounder on the issue of land acquisition.
GROWING OPPOSITION to land acquisition has emerged as a major barrier to the ambitious industrialisation plans of the Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in Orissa.
Protests have broken out Statewide against the displacement caused by land acquisition for industries. More so after the police firing at Kalinga Nagar in which 13 tribals were killed on January 2. The recent approval of special economic zone status to several upcoming mineral-based industries has added impetus to the people's opposition to land acquisition.
In fact, people's reluctance to give up their land to make space for industries seems to be growing apace with the speed at which the alliance government continues to sign memoranda of understanding with private companies for setting up industries in different parts of the State.
Poor rehabilitation of those displaced earlier is a major factor for the people's opposition.
By now, the land required by different companies to house their industries has already crossed the 1,00,000 acres mark. This requirement is in addition to the land the companies would get on lease for mining iron ore, bauxite, coal, and other minerals.
A total of 45 MoUs had been signed in the steel sector; the number of valid agreements stands at 42 at present following the cancellation of three. But the number of these MoUs is set to grow in the coming months as several other companies are waiting for the clearance of their proposals.
Besides, the State government has already signed 13 MoUs for setting up of thermal power projects that also require land both for their plants and mining of coal. Ten of these MoUs were signed on a single day last month (September 26).
That the Naveen Patnaik Government has failed in acquiring land for various industries is getting clearer by the day. The authorities have so far not been able to persuade the tribals of Kalinga Nagar to vacate their land. The tribals continue to block the Daitari-Paradip national highway near Kalinga Nagar since January 2 saying a firm no to displacement.
In the coastal villages spread over three gram panchayats in Jagatsinghpur, where a 12 million tonne capacity steel mill is planned, the situation is equally bad. The Government has agreed to hand over possession of 1,135 acres at Rs.25,000 per acre, but the steel company has not been able to take possession of any land in the area till date.
In its efforts to cope with the people's opposition to displacement, the company brought down its land requirement from 4,500 acres to 4,004 acres, but to no avail. The families facing displacement by the project have now blocked entry for both government and company officials to the area.
The Government has also not been able to earmark 30 acres in Bhubaneswar where the company plans to set up its office and a residential colony for its staff members. The company continues to run its office from space hired in a government building in the city. Its officials are living in private houses taken on rent.
Even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik continues to welcome all and promise land, minerals, water, and other help to create employment opportunities for the people, the whole exercise is threatening to flounder over land acquisition. Instead of creating an environment of economic prosperity, the industrialisation process seems to be creating social tensions in the proposed industrial hubs and mining zones.
The officials of various companies that have started offices in the State are now running from pillar to post to take possession of land required for their projects. But in most cases, these officials are in a fix. They are unable to raise their voice against the bureaucrats dealing with the land acquisition process and convince the people facing displacement to give land for new industries.
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