NEW DELHI, july 21
Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari on Monday held a high-level review meeting with SAIL Chairman Amarendra Prakash to address key issues related to Bokaro Steel Plant, including rehabilitation, land use, employment, and city planning.
Tiwari called for regular coordination and clear communication with local communities, stressing that trained youth must be offered jobs in line with their qualifications. She urged SAIL to ensure its expansion plans reflect local priorities.
The meeting discussed the reorganisation of nine panchayats in Chas block to address pending rehabilitation of 20 villages. The Bokaro DC said the proposal was pending due to lack of consent from SAIL. The Chairman clarified that the company had no intention of displacing people and supported housing on unused, non-expansion land. The Chief Secretary directed the district administration to proceed.
On the return of 756.94 acres of unused forest land, Tiwari asked SAIL and the Forest Department to form a joint team for mapping and demarcation. Forest Secretary Abu Bakkar Siddique proposed that pillar demarcation be done if SAIL bears the cost. The Chairman agreed.
Tiwari also called for resolving hurdles in the Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor through coordination with the Revenue Department and directed repair work at Gargha Dam, with tourism development on adjacent land.
SAIL currently operates in 13 cities, out of which only three rank among its top ten planned urban centres.
The Chief Secretary urged officials to work towards including Bokaro Steel City in this list, citing its structured layout and urban potential.
The DC presented a roadmap for the same. The SAIL Chairman highlighted ongoing encroachment on 1,932 acres but assured full support for Bokaro’s development, noting that a ?20,000-crore expansion will boost employment opportunities and local economy.
ded with a call for inclusive development, driven by accountability, coordination, and public trust.
