Orissa Govt. hopeful of Posco not shifting its proposed steel plant from the State

BHUBANESWAR - The Government of Orissa on Saturday expressed hope that Posco India will not shift its proposed 12 million tonne steel plant from the State of Orissa.

Amidst some reports of the South Korean steel major planning to shift its proposed project from Orissa to Karnataka following inordinated delays and unending public protests, Orissa’s Industries, Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty today said, ” The Orissa Government has not received any such proposal from Posco India.”

Posco, the world’s No.4 steel maker, has reportedly agreed to invest around 7.1 billion dollars in Karnataka to build a six million tonnes per annum steel plant with 400 Mega Watt captive power plant.

The steel plant is likely to come up in Bellary or nearby districts of Karnataka.

The Government of Karnataka is also reportedly making active overtures to the South Korean company.

Recently it was reported that the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh would decide the fate of the Rs 54,000-crore Posco steel project in Orissa after the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) gives its recommendations on the alleged violations of green laws at the project site.

Last month, the FAC passed the buck to the tribal affairs ministry to see if the project proponents violated any tribal rights. (ANI)