The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has started the process of acquiring nearly 3,500 acres in Wadsa taluka, Gadchiroli district, for JSW Group’s proposed integrated steel plant.
This development follows JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal’s February announcement to invest Rs one lakh crore in setting up the facility in the Maoism-affected region. The plant is projected to have a production capacity of 25 million tonne per year, which will double JSW’s current output and exceed Steel Authority of India’s (SAIL) 18 million tonne.
Most of the identified land is privately owned, with some patches of forest land. The process involves state government approval, issuing notifications, local announcements, and joint land measurements. No formal communication has yet been made to the villagers. Additionally, since some of the affected villages fall under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), resolutions from local gram sabhas may also be required before proceeding.