Date:21/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/21/stories/2007062151430100.htm

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Huge package for Jindal plant

Cabinet approves 1,048 acres to aluminium company in Vizianagaram

HYDERABAD: Announcing a massive resettlement and rehabilitation package for 600 families that will be affected by the project, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved the allotment of 1,048 acres of Government and assignment lands to M/s Jindal South West Aluminium Company for establishing an Alumina Refinery Project in S. Kota Mandal, Vizianagaram district.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Information Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said the company would have to pay Rs. 2 lakh an acre for Government dry land and Rs. 2.25 lakh an acre for wet land. For assignment lands, the company would pay an ex-gratia of Rs.2,00,000 an acre to the assignee in addition to Rs. 75,000 an acre to the Government.

Under the rehab package, a member of every displaced family would get a job commensurate with qualification. In case the family was not interested in employment, it would be given a one-time financial grant of Rs. 3 lakh. Each of the 60 families which owned houses would be provided with homestead land of 1/10th of an acre with house to be constructed by the company on 45 sq. mts floor area.

In case the displaced person wants to settle elsewhere, an amount of Rs.1.5 lakh would be paid.

The company would also pay a wage component of Rs. 3,800 per month to each displaced family for a year by when the project was expected to go on stream.

In addition, shares of the company, equivalent to the compensation, would be allotted to the affected families.

The Cabinet also approved the policy for issuing no objection certificate for construction of mini-hydel stations. While the NOC would not be issued for building them on major rivers, including Krishna, Godavari and Pennar, as also main canals, the stations would be considered along rivulets and streams.

The meet also ratified the draft Cotton Seeds (regulation of supply, distribution, sale and fixation of sale price) Ordinance 2007 to safeguard interests of farmers.

It also ratified the sale of Government land of 1,094 acres in Meedipentla and Velpula villages (Kadapa district) to Uranium Corporation of India Limited’s mining project at the rate of Rs.50,000 per acre.