Complaint Against AM/NS India for Illegally Supplying Electricity to Inox Plant and Encroaching on Revenue Land

Surat : A complaint has been filed with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Chief Secretary Raj Kumar, seeking legal action against Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India)—formerly Essar Steel—for allegedly encroaching on revenue land in Hazira and illegally supplying electricity meant for the steel plant to the Inox plant for gas production.

Darshan Naik, general secretary of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCB), noted that Essar, which is currently owned by AM/NS India, has violated Gujarat Revenue Department directive dated July 16, 2022 about the maintenance of government land and the prevention of unauthorised encroachment on it.

According to Naik, AM/NS India has illegally encroached into revenue land in Hazira village bearing survey numbers 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 187/B, 235/B, 237, 238, 239A, 241, 243A, and 434. On July 21, 2002, a complaint was filed with the Chief Minister’s office.

Darshan Naik told The Blunt Times, “AM/NS India, formerly known as Essar Steel, has flagrantly violated environmental norms and illegally encroached on government revenue land in Hazira.” The company has gone on an expansion rampage, displacing thousands of people and threatening the environment, animals, and human population in Hazira.”

“I gathered all of the evidence against the company and forwarded it to the State Government for further action.” Despite my objections, the State Government has failed to take any action against the firm or its management,” Naik stated.

According to Naik, AM/NS India has maintained all of the top executives who formerly worked for Essar Steel. Dilip Oommen, the CEO of AM/NS India, is a longtime confidante of Essar Group and is aware of all the wrongdoings in the organisation. The State Government should question the authorities, including Oommen, about how they encroached on such valuable revenue land in Hazira for their commercial interests.

“In Gujarat, the government is not allowing small people to encroach on its land, while big business houses like AM/NS India have free rein to encroach on revenue lands.” “I have demanded a thorough investigation into the district administration, Gujarat Maritime Board, and Forest Department for misleading the State Government on the AM/NS India issue,” Naik added.