The Chhattisgarh government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Steel in 2005 for the greenfield project with a capacity to produce 5.5 million tonnes steel a year, on an investment of Rs.19,500 crore. The project envisages the acquisition of over 2,000 hectares of land. The area required for the steel plant is some 960 ha; the rest of the land will be used for residential quarters, ancillary units, roads, schools, hospitals, and a 625 MW captive power plant. About 585 ha earmarked for the project is held by individuals (called account holders, or khatadharaks in Hindi). The rest is controlled by the government and can be allotted directly to the Tatas on lease. https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30165361.ece

steel plant

Steel plant

land is purchased from government and then leased to the company

Land is purchased by the government and then leased to the company

several contracts a MoU between the company and the regional government was signed in 2005; since then, part of the land seems to have been acquired. In 2014, however, there are still negotiations on land issues

2005: MoU between the company and the regional government was signed 2008: Land covering as many as 10 villages in Bastar had been acquired in February and December, 2008 for the steel plant. 2016: Tata Steel withdrew from the project because of failed negotiations with affected communities

In 2016, even as the government hadn’t yet “taken possession of the land”, Tata Steel announced that it was pulling out of the project.

In 2016, even as the government hadn’t yet “taken possession of the land”, Tata Steel announced that it was pulling out of the project. In January 2019, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel had instructed his officials to complete the formalities of returning the land to tribals in Bastar.

PER_AREA

Some 20,000 people in 10 villages will be affected by the project. Nine of the villages are in Lohandiguda block Badanjee, Belar, Takraguda, Kumhali, Chindgaon, Dhuragaon, Dabpal, Paroda and Beliapal. The tenth, Sirisguda, is in Tokapal block.

recognized but not respected

hearing in 2009 but no consent

Hearing in 2009 but no consent The company and the local administration organised a public hearing on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the project on October 12, 2009, at the proposed project site in Lohandiguda, and it was attended by Varun Jha, Tata Steel vice-president in charge of the project. on October 12, 2010, the District Collector organised a public hearing on the Collectorate premises to sound out the villagers over the project, and later declared that the project had received overwhelming support from the villagers. The villagers, in fact, organised a parallel public hearing in November 2009 at Badanjee village, where the project was unanimously shot down. They sent copies of the minutes to the Minister for Environment and Forests.

villagers refused to give up their lands

Environmental degradation: diversion of forest land, clearing of trees Socio-economic: tribal farmers and forest-product collectors will loose their livelihood Cultural loss: tribals may loose space for cultural practices Eviction and Displacement: villagers who refuse to leave are forced to leave, some with compensation, some none, and with no relocation plans Violence: threats, coercion, massacres, physical abuses, jail time, made-up crimes are filed

694200000 Rupees. 273500000 are not payed yet (2012).

694200000 Rupees. 273500000 are not payed yet (2012). They were initially promised Rs.3.75 lakh to Rs.5 lakh a hectare, and the administration has promised to ensure that they get Rs.25 lakh a hectare. But, Mandavi said, the tribal people would not give up their land, whatever the price. The administration is willing to give land for land in as many cases as possible and give more than Rs.25 lakh a hectare as compensation.

While there was widespread debate among farmers and unrest over the land acquisition process, with activists calling the process exploitative and under duress, 1,165 farmers of the 1,707 farmers whose land was acquired accepted the compensation. The government maintained that the compensation for the rest had been deposited with the revenue deposit fund.