3 years on, Tata firm yet to get land in state

Kolkata, February 18 Having waited for three years for a 350-acre land to expand its current unit in the state, Kolkata-based company Tata Metaliks, a part of the Tata Group, might now be forced to put its plans for expansion on hold.

This, in case the company fails to get the required land by July this year as promised by the state government, said Harsh K Jha, the managing director of Tata Metaliks.

In February 2005, the company that manufactures and supplies pig iron had sought 350 acres of land from the state government adjacent to its existing facility in Kharagpur. “We have even paid 75 per cent of the cost for the land to the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) as advance,” Jha said. “Originally, the estimated cost of the project was Rs 700 to 900 crore. But now that cost must have increased,” he added.

When contacted, WBIDC Managing Director M V Rao said, “We have met them (the representatives of Tata Metaliks) a week ago. The proposal for obtaining land is going to be initiated now and the process of handing over the land will be completed very soon.” He maintained the state government will hand over the land by July.