PTI reported that steel companies are up in arms against Orissa Minerals Development Corporation for inviting Expression of Interests to form strategic partnership to develop Koyda mines with conditions that will exclude all the existing players.

Bhushan Steel Limited told OMDC management in a letter said that "You may cancel the present invitation and come out with a fresh one."

The bone of contention is that under the EoI it has been stipulated that only those firms which have signed MoUs with the Orissa government for setting up at least 6 million tonnes of steel plant would be eligible to participate in the tender.

Under the terms of EoI, 3 companies including ArcelorMittal, POSCO and Jindal Steel & Power Limited would be able to participate in the bidding process as they have singed the MoU with the Orissa government to set up steel plants of six million tonnes or more.

Mr Anil Ahuja VP corporate affairs & raw materials at Bhusan Steel said that the terms of the EoI would exclude those firms which already have steel plants in Orissa. He added that "We feel that OMDC should consider those companies already having plants in Orissa instead of those who have pledged to set up a plant."