Centre talking to states on ArcelorMittal, Posco projects
New Delhi: Union Steel Minister Virbhadra
Singh today said the Centre is in talks with the Jharkhand and
Orissa governments to facilitate the multi-billion dollar
India projects of global steel giants ArcelorMittal and Posco.
"It (talking) is a continuous process aimed at expediting
and facilitating the two projects. We are talking to resolve
the issues like land acquisition, mining leases," Singh said after visiting the 'Steel Pavilion’ at the India International Trade Fair here.
Asked if the government has set a time-frame for these
projects to take off, he said, "These are greenfield projects.
They take more time than the brownfield projects as issues
like land acquisition, evacuation, rehabilitation, mining
leases exist. Currently, we wish to expedite it."
Greenfield projects are the ones which are started from
the scratch, while in case of brownfield, the company augments
the capacity of the existing unit.
The projects of ArcelorMittal and Posco are facing the
twin challenges of land acquisition and regulatory clearances.
The L N Mittal-led firm has threatened to quit the existing
site between Gumla and Khunti districts of Jharkhand because
of tribal protest and "regulatory hurdles." It is facing
similar problems in Keonjhar, Orissa.
Bureau Report