Trying hard to implement Posco project, says Naveen

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said his government has been trying 'very hard' to ensure setting up of the Rs 52,000 crore Posco steel plant near Paradip in the state.
"Our government is trying very hard to see the Posco project," Patnaik told reporters on his return from New Delhi.
He said he was not apprehending that the South Korean steel major would withdraw in the face of several hurdles before the project.
Patnaik's statement on the country's biggest FDI proposal is significant as Posco has been told to participate in the open bidding for iron ore mines in order to get the raw material linkage following enactment of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015.

While the fate of Posco project has been hanging in balance since signing of the MoU in June 2005, opposition BJP has recently raised question on the state government's sincerity in implementing the project.
The state government in the MoU had committed to provide raw material linkage, it could not materialise due to enactment of the new MMDR Act. The state government recommended prospecting license over Khandadhar iron ore reserve in favour of Posco.

"We have been telling the Centre to consider the Posco case separately and keep it away from auction route as international commitment is associated with the project," said state Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick.

Mallick said the state government would again take up the matter relating to Posco with the Centre.
Meanwhile, the state government has handed over 1,700 acre of the total requirement of 2,700 acre land to Posco to set up its 8 MTPA steel facility near Paradip in the first phase.