MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (DR. AKHILESH DAS)
(a)&(b): Yes, Sir. Indian Iron & Steel Company Ltd. (IISCO) including Chiria Mines had
been merged with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) with effect from 16th February,
2006. IISCO/SAIL had submitted the renewal application of all six mining leases of Chiria.
The State Government of Jharkhand rejected three mining leases out of six leases and balance
three leases are under deemed extension. SAIL has also submitted its expansion plan in
Jharkhand which also included renovation/expansion of Chiria Mines to the State Government
in March, 2006. Further, SAIL presented its brown field and green field expansion plan
along with the iron ore requirement for 50 years to the Government of Jharkhand and Ministry
of Mines, Government of India in April, 2007.
(c)&(d): The matter is subjudice.
(e)&(f): Chiria mines will be developed as a central mine to meet the iron ore requirement
of its steel plants in eastern sector viz. Durgapur Steel Plant (Durgapur, West Bengal),
Rourkela Steel Plant (Rourkela, Orissa), Bokaro Steel Plant (Bokaro, Jharkhand) and IISCO
Steel Plant (Burnpur, West Bengal). For brown field and green field expansion plan along
with iron ore requirement for 50 years by SAIL on overall basis, the existing iron ore
reserves with SAIL will not be sufficient to meet the requirement for 50 years. Continual
efforts are underway to procure Chiria mines for SAIL.
