Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday defended the government’s decision to sell 3,667 acres of land to JSW Steel in Ballari, saying that such decisions were necessary to promote industries and generate employment.
“JSW Steel is one of the big companies operating in the state. It has provided employment opportunities to hundreds of people. The decision to sell the land that was allotted to the company on lease in 2006 is aimed at promoting industries,” he told reporters.
The state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday decided to execute a sale deed, giving the ownership of the land to the company. Senior Congress leader and former minister H D Patil had, however, opposed the move. The company is facing charges of illegal mining and owes Rs 1,200 crore to Mysore Minerals Ltd, according to Patil.
Meanwhile, JSW in a statement said: “The land was leased for expansion of its steel plant capacity at Vijayanagar and the lease land shall become a free hold land as per the terms of original lease on expiry of specific period of lease. The informatoin that is being spread is false and misleading.”