October 14, 2008

Jharkhand ready to allot alternative mines to ArcelorMittal

Mr Madhu Koda chief minister of Jharkhand said that state government is ready to allot alternative iron mines to the ArcelorMittal as Ghatkuri and Chiria mines were caught in legal wrangles.

Mr Koda, replying to a query on whether the Mittals had applied for iron ore in Ghatkuri mines, in West Singhbhum district, which reportedly had a reserve of over 600 million tonnes of iron ore having a grade of 62%, said that Arcelor Mittal had sought 10 free blocks of iron ore in Ghatkuri mines during the Mr Arjun Munda government tenure.

Chiria mine, having one of the best quality iron ores in India, was the first priority of the Mittals. But litigation is currently on between the SAIL and the Jharkhand government over the mine.