Confusion over submission of a fee for converting agriculture land into industrial land has held up construction of a steel processing plant of SAIL at Arru village in the district’s Wazirganj block.

The bhoomi pujan (foundation stone-laying ceremony) for construction of the factory was performed on December 3, 2008 but no work has begun till date.

The application for no-objection certificate (NOC) by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has been pending with the office of Gaya Sadar sub-divisional officer. On Thursday, the SDO’s office claimed that SAIL has not deposited the fee for conversion of agricultural land into industrial one in the Gaya treasury through challan. On the contrary, SAIL authorities claimed they have already deposited the same around a year ago and blamed the SDO’s office for delay in issuing the NOC.

Recently, Gaya Sadar SDO Maqsood Alam sent a notice to SAIL, fixing July 2 as the deadline for payment of a fee of around Rs 9 lakh for the conversion and issue of NOC.

Arru Steel Processing Plant Construction Struggling Committee convener Vijay Kumar Mithu said he sought information under Right to Information (RTI) about what action had been taken in connection with the SAIL application.

Mithu said: “The plots are barren and not fertile agriculture land. After the bhoomi pujan, soil testing confirmed its fitness for setting up industry. A tender was floated for erecting the boundary wall but no work could start in the absence of NOC.”