High-Level Committee Formed for Rourkela Steel Plant Expansion
The Odisha government announced on Wednesday the formation of a high-level committee led by an additional chief secretary rank officer to resolve long-pending land-related issues of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). This crucial decision comes as part of the plant's massive ₹30,000-crore expansion plan that aims to significantly boost production capacity.
The announcement followed a key meeting between Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhavan. Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram was also present during the discussions that focused on land acquisition and ongoing modernization work at the plant.
Addressing Decades-Old Land Encroachment
The land issue represents a significant challenge for the expansion project. Approximately 1,200 acres of land originally allotted to the steel plant remains under encroachment, with about 300 families having resided there for decades. This encroached area is part of the total 12,000 acres currently under RSP's possession, which includes 5,200 acres for the plant and 6,800 acres for the township.
The land was originally acquired for RSP before its commissioning in the 1950s. A senior RSP official stated, "We plan to reclaim the land amicably for its proposed expansion," emphasizing the plant's commitment to resolving the situation through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Commitment to Amicable Resolution and Economic Growth
The Chief Minister's office clarified that "The committee will resolve all issues through discussions with the public," reflecting the government's commitment to consensus-based land acquisition. CM Majhi emphasized that while the expansion is crucial for Odisha's economic growth and job creation, the government will prioritize resolving local issues through engagement with affected families.
The high-level committee will specifically focus on engaging with these families to resolve disputes through dialogue and discussion, learning from past incidents. In April, protests over RSP's attempt to reclaim land for a railway line had turned violent when a demonstrator was run over by an excavator, leading to clashes between police and protesters.
Aligning with National Steel Production Goals
The expansion plan, initially announced in 2021, aims to double RSP's production capacity from 4.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to an impressive 9.8 MTPA. This aligns with Odisha's commitment to contributing to India's national aspiration of achieving 300 million tonnes of steel capacity by 2030.
Chief Minister Majhi stated, "Odisha is firmly committed to contributing to the national aspiration of achieving 300 million tonnes of steel capacity by 2030 and further strengthening its position as a leading force in India's steel sector."
Union Steel Minister Kumaraswamy expressed gratitude for the state government's cooperation and reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to supporting Odisha's steel sector growth. In an X post following the meeting, he wrote that key issues related to enhancing steel and mining production in Odisha were discussed, and the chief minister assured full support to meet the Prime Minister's vision for steel capacity expansion.
"Together, we are committed to strengthening Odisha's leadership in the steel sector," Kumaraswamy posted, highlighting the collaborative approach between state and central governments.
