Ranchi, July 14: Chief secretary A.K. Basu today faced a volley of questions — primarily on land and lack of infrastructure — from major investors planning to set up steel and power units in the state.

Representatives of the industrial houses pointed out that the government’s delay in announcing rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy was coming in the way of setting up factories. They added that the government would have to boost rail infrastructure if the fruits of industrialisation were to be enjoyed.

Basu faced flak while holding a meeting to assess “the progress made by industrial houses”.

The last such review took place on July 29, 2006.

Representatives of ArcelorMittal, JSW Steel Limited, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Tata Steel and Essar Steel, among others, attended the latest meeting.

The state government wanted to know what progress has been made over the past two to three years by the prospective investors in the wake of coal blocks and iron ore mining leases being allotted to them.

Sharing JSW’s achievement after signing the MoU, chief executive officer of the company R.P. Singh said: “We have got iron ore and coal blocks. An environmental clearance is being awaited for mining. But land happens to be the major concern. We have applied for permission to acquire government and private land of tribal and non-tribal population at Sonahatu.”

The JSW representative also raised the issue of railway infrastructure from Ankua, where four to five industrial houses have been allotted iron ore reserve. “A rail corridor should be constructed to transport iron ore from Ankua to the nearest railway hub. Besides, the Chandil-Muri railway line should be made double line to increase carriage capacity,” Singh said.

JSPL echoed that land acquisition remains a major hurdle and the process should be expedited so that its 6MTPA project near Patratu and 5MTPA project at Asanboni are set up.

Representatives of ArcelorMittal also raised the issue of difficulty in land acquisition due to pending R&R policy. The company has been facing tribal uprisings in Torpa-Madara of Khunti and Gumla districts, the proposed site for its 12MT greenfield project in Jharkhand.

Sources said ArcelorMittal demanded double railway line from Ranchi to Rourkela to ease traffic in future.

ArcelorMittal has proposed a greenfield project in Orissa, too.

Essar Steel’s vice-president (corporate affairs) Jayant Jaipal Singh also reiterated the need for the R&R policy.