ArcelorMittal may shift Rs 50K cr project within Jharkhand

Facing resistance from villagers to acquire land in Khunti for its proposed Rs 50,000-crore steel plant, ArcelorMittal group is considering an option to shift the project to another location within the state of Jharkhand, a state government official said here.

"We came to know that one of the options they (Mittals) are considering is to shift to some other location within the state for their proposed greenfield integrated steel plant project," N N Sinha, secretary (industries), Jharkhand government, said today.

The world's biggest steel maker is working on modalities to set up Rs 50,000-crore steel mill in the state with a capacity of 12-million tonne per annum and is awaiting various regulatory approvals from the state for the project.

NRI billionaire L N Mittal's ArcelorMittal in Khunti district is facing resistance by villagers at their proposed site at Torpa, Sinha said talking to reporters on the sidelines of ground breaking ceremony for Rs 65.63 crore Adityapur Auto Cluster project.

In view of this, the steel major may shift to Gumla district, he said.

He did not provide further details on whether the steel maker, which is acquiring land at Khunti and Gumla districts, will shift entirely to Gumla or to some other location. ArcelorMittal needs about 6,000 acres of land for the proposed project, he said, adding, the allotment of iron-ore mines to the steel major was well under consideration.