KEONJHAR: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Sunday reviewed progress of various development projects in Keonjhar district on Sunday.
On reaching the district in the morning, Pujari went to Maa Tarini temple at Ghatgaon and offered prayers. In the afternoon, he held a meeting at the Circuit House and took stock of ongoing land acquisition processes for various projects.
The minister was informed that identification of 13.50 acre government and 15.35 acre private land of the total 62.60 acre required for the Maa Tarini integrated project, has been completed. Around 40 per cent of the land has been handed over to the construction agency.
Pujari laid emphasis on the acquisition of 2,407.36 acre land required for the proposed mega steel plant at Patna. Funds have been sanctioned for conducting a social impact assessment (SIA), as the project involves 12 villages under Chemna and Yamunaposhi panchayats.
The minister announced that the existing sand ghat auction system will be replaced with an e-lottery mechanism. Under the new system, the government will fix a maximum price for sand to regulate market rates. The Revenue and Disaster Management department will oversee the e-lottery process and issue leases at the tehsil level.