ArcelorMittal seeks equal treatment for its Orissa project

World's largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal has asked the Orissa government to treat its proposed Rs 50,000-crore project on the issue of mining lease at par with other big ticket investments.

"Treat us at par with other mega projects on mining," ArcelorMittal's project chief in India Sanak Mishra told Industries and Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty in a meeting and urged him to consider its application for mining lease.

Though his company's proposal to the government was yet to be taken up, applications of many others were being considered, he said without naming any company.

ArcelorMittal is planning to set up a steel mill of 12 million tonne per annum capacity in Keonjhar district in the state which entails an investment of Rs 50,000 crore. However, the company is yet get various regulatory clearance for mining.

Besides ArcelorMittal, South Korea's Posco has also proposed to set up Rs 51,000 crore steel plant in Orissa. Posco again has not got mining lease.

Mishra said the company's proposal seeking clearance from forest department, which was submitted to the state government in January, had also not been processed so far.

"We have already completed environmental impact survey in the project area last December," he said and asked the government to expedite process on both of the pending the company's proposals.