Decision of the Visakhapatam Steel Plan to appoint a three-member committee turning controversial. Allegations are abuzz that the committee is meant to part with the precious plant lands in favor of businessmen in political positions.
Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Management’s decision to appoint a three-member committee on its land use is turning into a controversy for political reasons. The committee consist of three senior officials of the plan were asked reportedly asked to come up with a report in a month’s time on how to put about 10,000 acres of its land to good use. However, the committee and calling for a report in such a short span of time has become a talk of the town. And, allegations are a buzz that the plan management has appointed the committee to facilitate parting its lands in favour of some big time business men cum politicians in the Steel City.
The public sector undertaking, out of a total 21,000 acres of its land bank has already established a plant and residential areas in about 11,000 acres. Now it has a surplus land of 10,000 acres, which is kept for its expansion plans and other utilities associated with the plant. And, cost of these lands per acres is running in to Rs 3 to Rs 5 Cr.
Eying on these lands, a city based business men cum politicians have been learnt to have beem making repeated attempts mounting pressure on the Steel Plant management to part with the lands for four to five companies owned by them and their associates. However, the management has been resisting the moves to part with 400 to 600 acres of its land in favor of these politicians.
However, post bifurcation of the state, the politicians have reportedly mounting pressure on the plant management for the last 18 months to part the lands, giving them on long lease, for a song. While one leader was reportedly wanted the lands for a shipping company owned by his family , another Neta wanted to start his professional college. In addition to this, on learning all these happenings, another company reportedly having closer to the ruling TDP bosses too learnt to have jumped into the fray. And, it wanted the plant to part with about 350 acres for establishing a power utility.
Not able to withstand the pressure mounted by the businessmen in political attires, the company has reportedly appointed the committee to figure out the ways and means to meet the demands of the Netas.
