Question : SETTING UP OF STEEL PLANT

(a) whether the world’s largest steel maker the Arcelor Mittal is looking for alternative sites to set up steel plant in the Southern State of the country; and

(b) if so, the likely fate of steel plants to be set up in Orissa and Jharkhand?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL(SHRI A. SAI PRATHAP)

(a) The information is being collected from the respective State Governments of Southern States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerla and will be laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.

(b) The present status of M/s. Arcellor Mittal’s plant is as under: -

In Orissa - Arcellor Mittal India Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of Orissa on 21.12.2006 for setting up a 12.0 Million Tonne capacity steel project in Patna, Keonjhar district of Orissa. Nearly 8000 acres of land has been identified for the project, out of which 2847.562 acres is government land and the balance 4905.213 acres consist of private land. The process of land acquisition has begun. Since, all the 15 villages from where the land is to be acquired are located in the scheduled area, which is being be dealt in accordance with the Panchayat Extension to scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996. Since the area falls under scheduled area, the land is to be acquired, in accordance with PESA Act 1996.

In Jharkhand - M/s. Arcellor Mittal India Limited has also signed MoU with Government of Jharkhand on 08.10.2005 for setting up a 12.0 Million Tonne capacity steel project in Topra - Kadara area in Jharkhand. Nearly 8845 acres of land has been identified for steel plant & captive power plant. Prior approval of Government of India received for grant of Mining lease over 202 hectares in Karampada iron ore block in West Singhbhum district. Seregraha coal mine with 150 million tonnes reserve has been allocated jointly with GVK power Limited.