Posco asks Centre to expedite land allocation

"Process of clearances and approvals have taken little longer time than what we had expected," Posco India Senior General Manager Vikash Sharan told PTI.

He, however, added that the company has "got strong support from both the Centre and the state, and is hopeful that the clearances will come at an early date".

The Steel Ministry had yesterday convened a meeting of mega investors including Posco, ArcelorMittal and Tata Steel to take stock of the impediments in the way of the proposed projects.

The common concern of the investors, official sources said, was the delay in allocation of mineral-linkages and land acquisition.

Posco needs 4,004 acres for its proposed 12-million tonne steel plant in Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa. Of the total land required, 3,566 acre is government land, of which 2,959 is deemed forest area.

Posco's forest diversion plan for the said land has already been approved by Orissa Government and the Ministry of Environment and Forest. It is now awaiting clearance from the Supreme Court.

As for iron ore mines, Naveen Pattnaik's government had recommended prospecting licence of Kandhadar mines to the steel major. However, the licence could not be given to the company as the Centre directed Orissa to listen to all 251 applicants for the said mine before taking a final call.

Hearing of 20 more applicants for the mine is scheduled on July 26.