CUTTACK: Acting on a petition alleging Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT)’s reported moves to change the category of the land where its now-defunct paper mill stands at Choudwar and convert it into plots for sale, the Orissa High Court has ordered a status quo on it till the next date of hearing.
Ramesh Chandra Nayak and six other residents of Choudwar had filed the PIL seeking court’s intervention to stop the process and take back all government land in control of BILT. They alleged that BILT has applied for mutation and change of category for carving out the land into plots for sale.
“Government land was provided for industry. When the purpose has long since been lost, the land should be resumed,” the petition contended. Advocate BPB Bahali appeared on behalf of the petitioners.
Acting on it, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Arindam Sinha and Justice MS Sahoo fixed March 19 for hearing on BILT’s “right to deal with the land for a different purpose.” While seeking affidavit from the state government by then, the bench said, “State is to respond on petitioners’ contention that alienation for purpose of industry and the purpose lost would thereby render basis for the alienation removed.” The bench also sought affidavit from BILT by then.
During hearing, additional government advocate Suman Pattanayak stated that the matter is with the Law department and any decision is yet to be taken. BILT advocate SK Acharya stated that Ballarpur Industries Ltd. was subjected to insolvency proceedings and a resolution plan has been approved.
The plan took into consideration the company’s interest in the land. As such, it is entitled to have mutation and change of category so that it can be dealt with, Acharya contended.
According to records, the Choudwar paper mill was originally set up by the Titagarh Paper Mills. After the mill was declared sick, it was sold to BILT in 1994.
The assets of the plant include over 600 acres of land in Choudwar and Angul. Nearly 333.34 acres of land had been provided by government to the Choudwar paper mill.