November 22, 2008

ArcelorMittal Jharkhand project face obstacles - Report

PTI reported that ArcelorMittal's Jharkhand project may hit a roadblock with local villagers deciding not to give away an inch of land to the company for setting up the INR 40,000 crore Greenfield steel project.

Owing allegiance to Adivasi Moolwasi Astitva Raksha Manch the villagers adjoining Torpa-Kamdara blocks, where the company has proposed setting up its 12 million tonne steel plant, have out rightly rejected Jharkhand

Mr Dayamani Barla AMARM coordinator told PTI that "The recently announced policy of the government is an attempt to grab land from villagers on the pretext of industrialization. We would n0t let it happen. Villagers will not give even an inch of land to ArcelorMittal.”

On the other hand, the company said that it was making good progress on the Jharkhand project. Mr Sanak Mishra CEO of ArcelorMittal Jharkhand said that "Things are moving in right direction. We have applied for land and are extensively carrying out corporate social responsibility works in the state.”