Chhattisgarh to return tribal land acquired for Tata Steel in Bastar

The Congress party had promised in its Chhattisgarh manifesto that since the land acquired for Tata Steel in Bastar is lying idle for more than five years it would be returned to the tribals as per Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act, 2013, if they come to power.

Updated on: Dec 25, 2018, 12:33:35 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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The newly-elected Congress government in Chhattisgarh has said it will return the land acquired from tribal farmers in Bastar in 2005 by the state government for the proposed Tata Steel project, which did not take off.

The Chhattisgarh government issued a press release on Monday stating that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has issued directions to the concerned department and the process of returning the land of the tribals will start soon. (Arijit Sen/HT Photo)

The state government issued a press release on Monday stating that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has issued directions to the concerned department and the process of returning the land of the tribals will start soon.

The Congress party had promised in its manifesto that since the land is lying idle for more than five years it would be returned to the tribals as per Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act, 2013, if they come to power.

In 2005, Raman Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tata Steel and promised to set a plant worth ₹19,500 crore in Lohandiguda in Bastar.

The state government later acquired about 2,045 hectares of land in ten villages. Subsequently, in August 2006, Tata Steel closed the Lohandigua project but the state government did not give the land back to the owners.

Tata Steel officials in Jamshedpur declined to comment on the issue.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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