In a stern order, the Steel Ministry has asked the steel industry not to buy excess land and make a land bank, to be sold later.

The statement of the ministry came after the long agitation that has been happening in Orissa over the land acquisition of the Rs. 54,000 crore project.

Talking to a private news agency, PTI, a senior official of the ministry said that the ministry understands that the firms are acquiring more land than required. And this is something that should not be done.

Besides Orissa, strong protests are also going on in other parts of the country related to this issue. Posco and Arcelor Mittal are the two big names who are involved with the issue.

The multi-billion dollar projects of both the companies are remaining stalled because of such agitations. As long as five years have passed since the projects were inaugurated and till now nothing has been done.

Such issues can be handled only be making a 'win-win' solution between the tribals and the companies, the official said.

The industries need to use more technology and equipments rather than making a bigger factory on a big piece of land, the official advised.