www.telegraphindia.com reported that Ms Mamata Banerjee government allowed the JSW Group to take on lease 270 acres in Salboni that it had purchased in excess of the official ceiling to set up its INR 35,000 crore steel plant.

The government had in August vested 270 acres acquired for the plant because they were in excess of the official ceiling. Now it allowed the company to take back the land on lease under Section 14Y of the Land Reforms Act, 1955. The official land ceiling is 24 acres.

West Bengal industries minister Mr Partha Chatterjee at Writers’ Buildings said that “The Jindal group had decided to invest in the underdeveloped Jungle Mahal. There were certain complications. For instance, sanction under Section 14Y had not been applied for. We have decided to grant them permission.”

He said that “The standing committee of cabinet ministers on industry headed by the chief minister decided to give sanction allowing the company to take on lease the land exceeding the ceiling.”

Mr Chatterjee said that the government has also decided to give sanction to nine other projects under Section 14Y of the Land Reforms Act.

He added that in the future, the government would make a case-by case study of project proposals before deciding on giving the land sanction.

He said that the government would take a tough stand against projects for which land has been acquired but no work has started.

However, the company is still to resolve several other issues. It is yet to inform the government from where it will source coal, iron ore and water for the plant. It has also placed a request for acquiring 49 acres to complete a railway link but the government is yet to approve the acquisition.

Ms Mamata is, however, keen on convincing industrial houses that land will not be an impediment to the industrial drive launched by her government.

(Sourced from www.telegraphindia.com)