Uniform land acquisition policy for steel plants: Assocham

NEW DELHI: Industry chamber Assocham has sought PMO's intervention for a uniform land acquisition policy to help the steel sector add new production capacities in iron ore-rich states.

In a representation to the Prime Minister's Office(PMO), Assocham said the Mines Ministry should chalk out a broad framework on the basis of which states should formulate policy for land acquisition.

Iron ore-rich states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa have different policies for land acquisition, which are contradictory in nature and are causing delay in the execution of proposed steel projects, Assocham President Sajjan Jindal said.

Suggesting that incidents of protests by locals could be averted in these tribal dominated states, Jindal said the Centre in consultation with states should immediately put in place a uniform policy for land acquisition.

"Many of the industrialists who wanted to put up huge capacity steel plants are facing difficulties in acquiring land because of protests," he added.

Jindal said, uniform policy for steel manufacturers would create industrial climate for double digit growth as the sector substantially adds to infrastructure development.

The Assocham President said mineral resource being a national wealth, should be used in country's interest in an equitable manner in which local dominance should not come in way for narrow economic gains and "ulterior political objectives".