Indo Asian News Service reported that a day after a noted British paper said steel giant ArcelorMittal is close to pulling out of its proposed steel projects in Jharkhand and Orissa, the Jharkhand government on said that it has not received any communication from the steel maker in this regard.

Mr NN Sinha industries secretary of Jharkhand told IANS that "We have no information that ArcelorMittal is planning to wind up its Greenfield steel project in the state.”

British daily Financial Times Sunday quoted ArcelorMittal chairman Mr LN Mittal as saying his company may pull out of the USD 20 billion plan to build Greenfield steel projects in Jharkhand and Orissa. The report cited Mr Mittal as saying that if the land acquisition problems are not resolved soon, the company would look for alternative sites for the projects.

ArcelorMittal has selected 11,000 acres to set up the proposed 12 million tonne steel plant in the bordering Khuti and Gumla districts of Jharkhand. However, the company is facing strong resistance from local residents, who formed an anti displacement organization, Jharkhand Visthapit Virodhi Sangh JVVD, to spearhead the protest against land acquisition.

(Sourced from IANS)