Jharkhand swings into action on ArcelorMittal threat of withdrawal
Sunday, 11 Oct 2009
ET reported that 5 days after ArcelorMittal threatened to pull out from Jharkhand, the state government has swung into action to end the stalemate, stemming from the delay in land acquisition for the company’s 12 million tonnes steel plant.
Ms Aradhana Patnaik industries director of Jharkhand told ET that the government had sent a missive to the district administrations of Khunti and Gumla, where ArcelorMittal has proposed to set up the plant, seeking a detailed report on the status of the land acquisition.
Ms Patnaik told ET that “I have asked the district administrations to provide the current status of the land acquisition process. We would like to know the exact position and the objection of the villagers.”
She added that a similar communication had also been sent from the state secretary level as well.
While the Jharkhand government has already offered 1,025 acres to the company, local villagers have objected to the move. The company has also deposited money to the state government for the land. ArcelorMittal requires some 11,000 acres in the state.
