SPA to make plan for new J’khand capital

GRDA was set up as a government-run body to execute the project in 2004. On the occasion of the state’s second establishment day on November 15,2002,the then home minister L K Advani had laid its foundation stone at Sukurhuttu in Kanke block of Ranchi district.

The project remained suspended as a series of new chief ministers sat on it — starting with Arjun Munda,who opposed the project.

Now,under pressure of the party leadership to deliver,Munda has revived the project.

“We have to have a holistic approach to development,” he said.

His government went by a proposal,identifying land belonging to public sector giant Heavy Engineering Corporation in Dhurwa,where the secretariat along with other offices are located.

The HEC’s unused land is to be transferred to the state government as per the deal signed between the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries,Heavy Engineering Corporation and the state government in 2009.

The deal envisaged that in lieu of its 3,200 acres,the state government would pay Rs 275 crore to HEC. Of this,the state had paid Rs 164 crore and got possession of 1,988 acres.

However,since 1,212 acres are lying in illegal possession,the state government withheld the rest of the payment. In view of the state government’s plan and the court’s directive,Secretary (Heavy Industry) S Sudershan and HEC CMD G K Pillai held a meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday.