Bhopal, Mar 1: Madhya Pradesh Industries Minister Jayant Malaiya informed the state Assembly that the matter related to industries being set up in reserved land of Forest department would be resolved by an empowered committee of the Supreme Court as per rules.

Raising the matter during Question Hour, Sajjan Singh Verma (Cong) said Leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi had written a letter to the Raisen Collector in January regarding dispute on forest land in Mandideep industrial area. He said it was not clear to whom the land in question belonged.

Malaiya said the Forest department had claimed that some portion of 2,000 hectare land in Mandideep industrial area belonged to it. A joint survey was carried out by the Forest and Revenue departments in this regard in 2002. The survey revealed that 529.10 hectare land comes under preserved area and 40.20 under reserved area of the department. In this view, notices has been issued to 14 industries put up on the reserved area.

Maliaya said necessary information has been sought from the Raisen Collector and discussions had been held with the Forest department. Under such circumstances, the matter is presented before the empowered committee of the Supreme Court.