CPI(M) opposes land lease to TATA Steel in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Oct 9 (UNI) The CPI(M)'s Orissa unit, today strongly opposed the government's decision to lease out state owned Ferrochrome factory's land at the Kalinganagar Industrial Complex in Jajpur to Tata Steel.

Demanding the cancellation of the lease, CPI-M state Secretariat member Santosh Das told reporters here that the Industrial Development Corporation at its board meeting on August 14 last had resolved to lease out 40 acres of land of the Ferrochrome factory to Tata Steel illegally.

Mr Das alleged that the decision was taken in a ''hush hush'' manner, violating all norms. The government decision was taken after Tata Steel in a letter to IDC Chairman Priyabratra Patnaik in July requested to lease out 40 acres of land for three years for setting up of its fabrication unit.

The government had already allotted 3500 acres of land to Tata steel at Kalinganagar to set up its six million tonne Integrated Steel Plant.

The CPI(M) leader described the decision as a conspiracy of the the BJD-BJP government to hand over the Ferrochrome factory's land to Tata after it failed to privatise the factory.

Mr Das demanded the government to immediately cancel the lease and use the land for the expansion of the ferrochrome factory. He also demanded strict action against Chairman and the Managing Director of the IDC for showing undue favour to Tata and urged the government to remove him from the post.

UNI