Jindal to get 3,660 acres in Ballari dist

Bengaluru: The cabinet decided to sell 3,660 acres of land in Ballari district’s Torangal and Hospet to Jindal Steel Works (JSW), as per the initial lease-cum-sale deed when the company set up operations 10 years ago.
The JSW developed steel/cement plants and a power station, apart from providing housing and sporting infrastructure for its employees on the land, and the government has decided to honour its agreement.“The company has already deposited Rs 18 crore with the government towards the lease-cum-sale deed. As per rules, the finance department stated that land prices, for which the sale can be executed, cannot be less than standard rate (SR) of the property. Accordingly, we will execute the sale deed in favour of the company at Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per acre,” rural development and panchayat raj minister Krishna Byregowda said after the cabinet meeting.
Murmurs of protest
According to sources, the land sale to JSW was debated at length at the meeting, with some ministers objecting to it. But the government decided to go ahead and execute the sale deed, considering the need to improve the investment climate, encourage more industries in the state and to honour the agreement signed with the company.
Other decisions
* Cabinet to start new Raichur university, carved out of Kalaburagi varsity which includes institutions in Yadgir district
* Fresh detailed project report to be prepared by RITES for construction of Hassan airport, as part of joint venture with Airports Authority of India
* Rs 68 crore sanctioned to make Victoria a 1,000-bed hospital
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Govt prepares for cloud seeding; HAL offers help
Bengaluru: Krishna Byregowda said the government has floated a tender for cloud seeding in the state at a cost of Rs 91 crore. The two-year agreement has been signed with Kyathi Climate.
According to Byregowda, the technical committee set up to study the success rate of cloud seeding in 2017 said there was 27.9% increase in rainfall over and above natural rain, apart from increase of 2.51 TMC of water due to cloud seeding.
PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has come forward with a similar cloud-seeding initiative. “However, we are yet to get clarity on their model and the extent to which they are ready to initiate such projects. If proved, we will try to negotiate with HAL in 2020,” Byregowda said.