Kalinga Times reported that after mega steel plant projects in Orissa of POSCO and TATA Steel have been delayed for years because of the local protest against land acquisition, ArcelorMittal could be join the bandwagon. Actually, the delay is quite evident as local protests have begun in the Keonjhar district of Orissa.

The protestors recently said that they would lose more than 800 acres of agricultural land on which they are dependent. They argue that the plant should be set up on barren lands. Mr Muralidhar Sardar president of Mittal Pratirodh Manch said that "We want better irrigation for our agricultural land, for our better livelihood. We do not want the Mittal steel plant, which would take away our land and thus our livelihood. We are ready to die but would not allow the plant on our land."

The report also cited Mr Vijay Bhatnagar CEO of ArcelorMittal India as saying that "We target to start the plant by 2012. But if there is any delay in starting the work then this would add to the date of commencement of the plant."

Anticipating the tussle, ArcelorMittal has started workshops for the first time in Keonjhar to convince the people about the benefits of the steel project. But they have a tough job on hand. The project would displace nearly 15,000 people in 17 villages in Patna Tehsil of Keonjhar.

ArcelorMittal signed the MoU with the Orissa government on December 12th 2006 and it now intends to start the project work on the ground. The project requires 8,000 acres of land.