IANS reported that Jharkhand government has moved a step closer for allotment of land to ArcelorMittal for setting up its proposed INR 400 billion steel project in Jharkhand.

Mr Rahul Sharma state Industries Director said that ArcelorMittal will be given government land to set up its proposed steel project in Jharkhand.

He told IANS that “We have asked ArcelorMittal representatives to deposit INR 12.5 crore to Gumla district to get 1,000 acres of government land. We have also asked the Khuti administration to expedite the land survey work.”

He added that the government would soon start handing over the land to the company.

ArcelorMittal had identified land in Khuti and Gumla districts for the project that includes a 12 million tonne Greenfield steel plant and a township. It needs around 8,800 acres for the plant and 2,400 acres for the township.

The company has welcomed the government move. A company official in Ranchi said “We welcome the government initiative to provide land to our steel projects. The state government should expedite land acquisition to provide us required land.”

(Sourced from IANS)