Peeved by the central direction to stop all work on POSCO steel project in Orissa, Mr Naveen Patnaik chief minister on Aug 6th 2010 wrote a letter to prime minister seeking his immediate intervention into the matter as the ministry order is likely to delay the project further.

A senior official in chief minister's office told IANS that “The chief minister has sent a three page protest letter to the prime minister marking a copy to union environment and forests minister.”

He said that “The chief minister has told the prime minister that the state government is expediting the land acquisition process after necessary legal approval.”

The official further said that Mr Patnaik has also said that the state government had sent the proposal on diversion of forest land to the environment and forests ministry June 26th 2007.

(Sourced from IANS)