Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reportedly asked Posco India to begin work on the much-delayed 8 million tonne per annum (mn tpa) steel project in Jagatsinghpur district.
However, the Indian arm of the South Korean steel maker faces two key problems for the proposed steel project. They are land and environment clearance.
While the project needs 2,700 acre land, the company so far received only 1,700 acre of land. Another 400 acre is said to have been acquired by the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation for the facilitating the project. But Posco still needs 600 acre land to begin work on the project.
Recently, officials from the Chief Minister’s Office held a meeting with Posco India officials and have reportedly indicated its keenness on the firm beginning work in June, even if it is within the parcel of 1,700 acre of land.
However, another hurdle in the steel project is the environment approval. On May 28, the National Green Tribunal ordered a status quo on land acquisition, until the MoEF renewed a lapsed clearance.
Last month, an expert appraisal committee reviewed Posco’s application and company officials are expecting a recommendation for a new environment clearance. A final call though rests with the Union Minister for Environment and Forest Jayanthi Natrajan.
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