BHUBANESWAR: The Managing Director of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) and Congress MP Navin Jindal on Tuesday said acquisition of agricultural land for industries should be avoided.Jindal met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat and discussed the investment proposal of the company in Orissa.Talking to media-persons after the meeting, Jindal maintained that there were some vested interests who vitiate the atmosphere and politicise the issue.Stating that the issue of land acquisition should be taken up on a case-to-case basis, the Congress MP observed that for development of the State land for industries is required. He said 90 per cent of the land acquired for the JSPL unit in Angul was barren land.To a question, Jindal said the country needs foreign direct investment (FDI) and investment from within the country in the steel sector. He, however, said investment should be protected as it creates employment opportunities.Jindal favoured projects by Posco and ArcellorMittal as the per capita consumption of steel is very low in the country. More investment will lead to more competitiveness. The JSPL wants to set up world’s largest steel plant in Angul, Jindal said and added that the company aims to establish 20- million tonne capacity plant in the district by 2020 with an investment of Rs 1,20,000 crore.Besides investment in projects, JSPL wants to strengthen social infrastructure in the State. It aims to set up schools, a power training centre and a medical college in Angul district, he said.The JSPL wants to sign an MoU to set up a coal-to-liquid (CTL) project to produce petrol and diesel in the State. He said the steel plate mill in Angul will start production by August.The company also has plans to establish an industrial park which can accommodate 100 ancillary units and create an employment potential for 25,000 people.Jindal also met Minister for Steel and Mines Raghunath Mohanty.
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