Jamshedpur: Facing resistance from villagers
to acquire land in Khunti for its proposed Rs 50,000-crore
steel plant, ArcelorMittal group is considering an option to
shift the project to another location within the state of
Jharkhand, a state government official said here.
"We came to know that one of the options they (Mittals)
are considering is to shift to some other location within the
state for their proposed greenfield integrated steel plant
project," N N Sinha, Secretary (Industries), Government
of Jharkhand, said today.
The world's biggest steel maker is working on modalities
to set up Rs 50,000-crore steel mill in the state with a
capacity of 12-million tonne per annum and is awaiting various
regulatory approvals from the state for the project.
NRI billionaire L N Mittal's ArcelorMittal in Khunti
district is facing resistance by villagers at their proposed
site at Torpa, Sinha said talking to reporters on the
sidelines of ground breaking ceremony for Rs 65.63 crore
Adityapur Auto Cluster project.
In view of this, the steel major may shift to Gumla
district, he said.
He did not provide further details on whether the steel
maker, which is acquiring land at Khunti and Gumla districts,
will shift entirely to Gumla or to some other location.
ArcelorMittal needs about 6,000 acres of land for the proposed
project, he said, adding, the allotment of iron-ore mines to
the steel major was well under consideration.
"We are trying to sort out their problems one by one,"
Sinha added.
When contacted, an ArcelorMittal official who did not
like to be quoted said, "We don't have any comments on the
issue."
The company needs about 6,000 acres of land for the
proposed project, he said adding, allotment of iron-ore to the
steel major was well under consideration.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, September 21, 2009, 20:51