Assocham slams land issue politicization

BHUBANESWAR: The apex body of industries, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), urged all political parties here on Thursday not to politicize land acquisition process for mega industrial projects like Posco. It also urged industries not to acquire agricultural land.
"The protest against land acquisition is not only confined to Orissa, but it has become a national problem as some people want to politicize the issue.For the interest of the country the political parties should not politicize land acquisition process," said secretary general of ASSOCHAM, D S Rawat.
"What happened in Posco project area was expected. We must try not to acquire any agriculture land for setting up industries. All project-affected people must be given jobs and rehabilitated properly by the companies and should be made partners and share holders in the industrial growth," he said.
A study report on 'ASSOCHAM strategy: sustaining growth momentum in Orissa', released here on Monday, however, said only 3 % projects were stalled due to reasons like obstruction, cancellations due to market policy, obtaining environmental clearances and land acquisition policy. "By Decemebr 2010, Orissa could attract a total of 574 live investment projects worth Rs 11.3 lakh crore and emerge as a lucrative investment destination for investors seeking to invest in different sectors like manufacturing, power, mining, services, irrigation and real estate," said chairman of ASSOCHAM, Lalit Khaitan. He said the state registered a growth rate of 10.8 % in the last decade as against the national average of 7.3 %. The state also recorded an impressive compounded annual growth rate of 8.8 % during the last decade.
ASSOCHAM is to organise a day-long conclave on cluster development of SME sector here on Friday where investors will have an interface with the state government. About 50 investment proposals are likely to be put forward to the state government during the conclave. Rawat said. "After scrutinizing the proposals the government may go ahead with signing MoUs with the investors," he said.