Concerned at Posco delay, PMO calls Orissa officials

New Delhi, July 6: Seriously concerned that inordinate delays in Korean major Posco’s Rs 54,000-crore steel unit in Orissa will deter prospective foreign investments in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has called senior Orissa Government officials on July 11 to take stock of the promised investments in the state and facilitate fructification of the memoranda of understanding by the state with private firms.

“PMO officials would meet the top brass of the Orissa government to take stock of the promised mega investments in the steel sector in the state wherein the issue of Posco would be discussed. Posco has already expressed concern that its proposed integrated steel project was getting delayed,” a senior government official told The Indian Express.

The Korean steel giant has already expressed concern over the delay by the Orissa government in recommending the Khandadhar mine to it, but informed sources say that the state completed public hearing of nearly 250 claimants of the said mines but later discovered that there were nearly 15-16 applicants who remained to be heard. Now the hearing process for the remaining applicants has commenced.

The steelmaker is also seeking expeditious approval of the forest diversion clearance by the Supreme Court Empowered Committee and has also asked the Naveen Pattnaik government to hand it over the non-forest government land at the earliest. It is eager to avoid further delay in acquisition of private land and ensure their valuation by the Special Land Acquisition Officer. The Korean company has asked the state to identify and classify eligible encroachers as per the field enquiry, deciding their compensation entitlement and mode of disbursement if any by September and engaging into direct negotiation with them for evacuation of encroachment from government land also by September, sources said.

Besides, the steelmaker has also sought finalisation of Relief and Rehabilitation package in Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) at the earliest. “For proper compensation, transparent and sincere discussion will be made through RPDAC where village people can participate,” a Posco official said.

Along with Posco, the world’s biggest steelmaker ArcelorMittal is also struggling to set up its 10 million tonne steel plant worth Rs 40,000 crore in the state and is also waiting for various clearances, triggering the Commission’s concern that these projects may not materialise.

Showing steel

•Posco is concerned over the delay by Orissa in recommending the Khandadhar mine to it

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