Land hurdles resolved? Jharkhand officials to meet Union ministry, addressing land issues for Bokaro's integrated manufacturing cluster; Project delays threaten local employment

Bokaro: Jharkhand govt will send a team of officials to meet their counterparts in the Union ministry of steel and resolve land hurdles around the proposed integrated manufacturing cluster (IMC)here under the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor in Bokaro.A high-level meet was held on Friday in Nepal House in Ranchi to review the progress of the project. Bokaro deputy commissioner Ajay Nath Jha, state industries director, managing director of Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority and director of land records attend the meet which was chaired by state industries minister Sanjay Yadav.Bokaro MLA Shwetta Singh, who raised the issue in the winter session of the state assembly earlier this week, said, “The project had been stuck since 2021 due to land-related complexities.The delay is affecting Bokaro’s youth, entrepreneurs, and the region’s industrial prospects. The minister has now given clear instructions to make land valuation realistic and expedite decisions.”Over 50,000 people are expected to get direct employment when the project is launched. Bokaro MLA said lakhs of people will get indirect employment.Yadav, during the meeting, objected to the BSL’s land valuation for the project and called it impractical.

“SAIL must support development, not obstruct it, assuring that I would personally speak to the Steel Secretary for an early resolution,” he said.Over 740 acres of BSL land has been identified for the project but land pricing is resulting in the delay. BSL has demanded Rs 1,400 crore for the land parcel which the state govt has termed as exorbitant.Over 740 acres of BSL land has been identified for the project. BSL has demanded Rs 1,400 crore for the land, officials said