Decision awaited on 2,000 acres govt land with BHEL

Bhopal, Nov 6 (UNI) Union Heavy Industry Minister Santosh Mohan Dev today said that a decision was yet to be taken on returning 2,000 acres of Madhya Pradesh government land that was under the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's possession here.

''A Cabinet discussion has taken place and a Group of Ministers will also take it up,'' he told reporters. Mr Dev was here to take part in a golden jubilee programme marking BHEL's founding day.

Mr Dev pointed out that BHEL was taking advantage of opportunities in nuclear power generation.

''Earlier, BHEL provided land to the state government for setting up an institute that would parallel Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences. It has been learnt that more land is required.

However, the acreage already provided equals that of AIIMS,'' he added.

The minister said that the Centre was willing to provide more land but first work would have to begin on the facility and the need for more land should be justified.

The 2,000 acres in question were provided when BHEL was established. At one point the BHEL management spoke of returning the land. Later the matter became complicated and has been raised time and again between the state and the Centre.

''The builders' lobby also demanded this land but that demand met with considerable resistance. Another demand says that the land be given to low and middle income employees,'' Mr Dev explained.

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