Agricultural level of development: a comparative study between project and non-project area of JSW Bengal Steel Ltd. at Sundra Basin of Salboni block, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India

M/S JSW Bengal Steel Ltd. is one of the India’s leading steel producer company is going to set up a 10.0 Mtpa (Million ton per annum) and 300 MW Captive Power Plant by 2020 at Sundra Basin of Paschim Medinipur, but the proposed projet has been suspended due to lack of raw materials on 1st December 2014. For the said project 17.1 sq km land has been acquired from 22 mouzas in 2009. After land acquisition an extensive deterioration in the agricultural level of development has been observed at the JSW project affected mouzas. Due to losing of productive land and profession of primary activities, people of project sites have been suffering from steep reduction in income and employment. As a consequence, a sharp difference in development between project affected and non-affected areas has been observed at basin scale. The value of composite index of agricultural development varies from 0.28 in 2007 to 0.94 in 2014 that indicates a wide regional disparities present at study area and requires immediate attention for all inclusive development. So there is an immediate need for proper planning on project affected mouzas to make alternative livelihood opportunities with help of local NGOs and Government.