October 12, 2008

JSW Bengal to get environmental clearance soon

PTI reported that JSW Bengal Steel hopes to get environment clearance soon for beginning construction of the INR 35,000 crore integrated steel plant in the state.

Mr Biswadip Gupta MD of JSW Bengal said that "The final meeting with ministry of environment and forests was concluded on December 27th 2007 and we have received positive feedback from the ministry." He added that the official letter for the clearance has not yet been received as it usually takes 2 months after the final meeting.

Mr Gupta said that installation of the plant and machinery is expected to begin from the third quarter of 2008. The vendors working at the Bellary plant of the group may be engaged for the Bengal project. He added that "The steel production plan remains on schedule. We will roll out in March 2011."

It is noted that ministry of environment and forests clearance is the only hurdle in the way of JSW Bengal for beginning construction of 1st phase of 10 million tonne plant at Salboni in West Midnapore district.
1. Land acquisition for the project is also near completion. Out of a total 4,500 acre only 146 acre of patta land remained to be acquired. 2. JSW Steel Bengal has been allotted an iron ore mine in Ankua, Jharkhand and a few in Karnataka.
3. It has engaged Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, which has begun assessment with 5 rigs at the site to develop the underground coking coal mine block offered to the company which would partially feed its plant.