MP wants family land returned if mill not set up at Kantabanji

MP wants family land returned if mill not set up at Kantabanji

FRIDAY, 18 MAY 2012 22:23

PNS | BALANGIR

HITS: 8

·        

·        

·        

inShare

Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has once again demanded setting up of a railway wagon factory at Kantabanji “in view of availability of railway land and to ensure economic prosperity to the backward district.”

Singh Deo’s stand assumes significance in the wake of the demand by the people of neighbouring Kalahandi district for a wagon factory at Narla and the State Government’s reported decision to set up the proposed factory at Sitapalli in Ganjam district.

Singh Deo, in a letter to Railway Minister Mukul Roy on May 15, has stated, “Land acquisition is a highly time-taking and sensitive process and almost all departments and agencies have to face a lot of problems (in this regard). “My grandfather (former Chief Minister) late Maharaja RN Singh Deo had donated his personal land of approximate 400 acres for establishment of a railway factory at Kantabanji.”

The MP’s letter further pointed out that “As per the enclosed reply to RTI application dated 21st April 2010, a total of 125 areas of vacant land are in the possession of the Railways at the Kantabanji railhead. This land has also been identified for setting up the proposed wagon factory according to the report of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM). This land can be used for setting up a wagon factory rather than looking for other possible venues where land acquisition process will need to be undertaken.”

Moreover, the Railways doesn’t need to seek any permission from any other authority for location of the factory, and the project can be executed at Kantbanji without any problem, the letter contended.

As Balangir is one of the poorest districts in the country, the Railways on a priority basis should set up the plant for economic development of this ‘no-industry district,’ the MP has argued.

Importantly, Singh Deo has told the Railway Minister that since the land at Kantabanji was donated for a specific purpose by his grandfather, the Railways should return the land if it is not utilised for the purpose.