Bhubaneswar: The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) Tuesday decided to explore alternative options for utilizing vacant land in Odisha for the establishment of employment-oriented projects, informed a source.
A high-level meeting, attended by Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian, the Development Commissioner, ACS Revenue & Disaster Management, ACS Forest Environment & Climate Change, Principal Secretary Industries, MD of IDCO, and Collectors of Cuttack, Jharsuguda, and Ganjam districts, along with relevant department officials, reviewed the status of several critical industrial and infrastructure projects in the state, the source added.
5T Secretary proposed that from now on, all industrial projects should be assessed based on the need for a skilled workforce for specific projects, and skill development institutions like ITIs and Polytechnics should be partnered with to ensure the availability of local workers, the source informed.
Official sources informed that textile and locomotive industries have shown interest in establishing units on the vacant land in Choudwar measuring 521 acres, which had been taken over by the State Government after clearing all employment-related dues.
Similarly, substantial portions of industrial land leased to Orient Paper Mills in Brajrajnagar, Jharsuguda district, are currently unused. The meeting decided to repurpose this land for better utilization. The Jharsuguda District administration and IDCO were instructed to complete this process within one month, and the Industries Department was directed to invite potential industries to establish employment-oriented projects in the area, the source added.
During a public grievances meeting organized by the CMO in the area, the public requested the establishment of labour-intensive industries on vacant lands. IDCO and IPICOL presented an Action Taken Report, and after detailed discussions, it was decided to transfer suitable portions of vacant land to IDCO for the development of a Model Industrial Park, the source said.
The meeting also resolved that IPICOL would offer industrial plots to well-established industrial investors. Furthermore, it was decided to develop the industrial park in phases to maximize employment opportunities for local youth, the source added.
In the review of the Action Taken Report by the district administration of Ganjam and IDCO regarding the development of the Gopalpur Industrial Park, it was decided that IPICOL and IDCO would invite other major industries to set up projects in the Gopalpur Industrial Park, taking advantage of the nearby port facilities.
According to official sources, three large companies have already taken possession of land in the Gopalpur Industrial Park and will soon commence their projects.
UNI