Tatas to go ahead with its Steel Plant in Kalinga Nagar

Bhubaneswar, May 2 (UNI) Tata Steel Managing Director B Muthuraman today ruled out the shifting of its 10-million tonne steel plant in the wake of Kalinga Nagar violence in which 13 tribal people were killed in police firing on January 2 last during a demonstration.

Mr Muthuraman who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here and discussed the construction of the Steel plant at Kalinga Nagar, told reporters that the Tata Steel was committed to set up the plant in time.

The construction work of the project at the site has been stopped since January 2 last as the tribal agitators had put up road blockade and launched a movement against the project after the violent clash with the Police.

Mr Muthuraman said the construction work of the project would be commenced soon but prior to that the Tate Steel would ensure that the problems of the rehabilitation sorted out through discussion with the local people.

He said for the company, the people were the most important and all efforts would be taken to see improvement in the quality of life of the people in the area.

The Tata Steel MD welcomed the new RR policy of the state government and said it would help in improving the living standard of the people. The company, he further said would ensure a decent livelihood for the displaced people before starting the project.

The Chief Minister later told reporters that he had a detailed discussion with Mr Muthuraman who informed him that the construction of the project, which would start soon.

He said the people in the project area would receive a good compensation package as per the new RR policy of the state government.

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