New Delhi: Industry body Assocham has sought
intervention of the Prime Minister's office to direct the
Ministry of Mines to evolve a uniform policy so that steel
makers could set up plants in iron-ore rich states like
Orissa.
The chamber said lack of a uniform policy with regard to
land acquisition for setting up steel plants in different
states is a big problem for industrialists.
"As a result, the steel manufacturers have to pursue one
direction in one particular state and different in other
states, which cause problems in execution of their projects
and add to costs," the chamber said.
The chamber said several industrialists who want to put
up steel plant in Orissa are facing difficulties in acquiring
land and in many instances projects have been stalled due to
resistance from the locals.
Recalling one such incident, the chamber's Secretary
General D S Rawat said once a member of the body had to
abandon the site all together to escape mob fury that had
erupted during Bhoomi Puja, leading to unnecessary delay in
the project.
In order to avoid recurrence of such incidents, the
Central government in consultation with the state concerned
should immediately put in place a policy so that industrial
investments are carried out in a peaceful manner, Assocham
said.
The chamber also said the government should form an
uniform policy for free movement of natural resources within
the country.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, October 12, 2009, 23:48