PTI reported that days after steel tycoon Mr LN Mittal expressed disappointment over delay in his proposed steel projects in the country, the Adivasi Moolvasi Astitva Raksha Manch said it would continue to oppose his Jharkhand project.

Chief convener of the Manch Ms Dayamani Barla Barla said that "We will not allow any new steel company in Jharkhand. They (industrialists) are out to destroy forest and fertility of agricultural land. Forty villages in Gumla and Khunti districts will be affected by the ArcelorMittal project.”

Stating that out of the 104 MoUs the Jharkhand government had signed, 98 were with steel companies, Ms Barla said that "The state government talks of sustainable development. What type of sustainable development does it want? Setting up steel mills in every village?"

Reacting to reports quoting L N Mittal that it would take five to 10 more years for progress in his company's India plans, Ms Barla asked, "Does it mean they will set up factories after ten years without destroying the environment?"

Asked how can industrialization and development take place without, she questioned, "How development took place before signing MoUs?"

The CEO of world's largest steel-maker ArcelorMittal said in New York on June 19 that "There are "understandable challenges in India relating to land acquisition and raw materials, but nevertheless the government must find a way to overcome these road-blocks more swiftly."

ArcelorMittal signed the MoU with Jharkhand in 2005 while a 2009 study by the ASSOCHAM said that Mittal got mines in Jharkhand but not land. It said the project could generate employment for 5,500 people directly and 20,000 indirectly.

Source - PTI

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