Munda and Mittal talk steel over dinner in London

Ranchi, July 28 (UNI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda and steel baron Laxmi Niwas Mittal last night sat for three hours at the latter's London residence to sort out differences regarding the 12 million tonne capacity steel plant supposed to be set up in the state.

Mr Munda, accompanied by Home Minister Sudesh Mahto and a host of senior bureaucrats, called on Mr Mittal as per the invitation and made detailed discussion on the plant and related technical hazards, official sources said here today, adding both sides tried to ''erase'' some doubts that particularly cropped up following the the company's announcement to set up another steel plant with equal capacity in neighbouring Orissa.

The Munda-led delegation was reportedly upbeat seeing the warm reception shown by Mr Mittal who hosted a dinner in their honour.

The Chief Minister assured the world's leading steel manufacturer of all possible help in seeing the materialisation of the eigh-month-old MoU signed between the two regarding the steel plant.

Mr Mittal, however, made no bone of his displeasure about the tardy progress and reiterated various problems faced by the company in Jharkhand.

He, at the same time, made it clear that the state should not see his another venture in Orissa as a pressure tactics, saying he was looking for opportunities for more investment in India.

The steel tycoon requested the Chief Minister to meet the company's requirement for such a big project mainly in terms of quality iron ores.

Mr Mittal expressed unhappiness over the fact that even after eight months of signing the MoU, the company had not been assured of mines with proven record.

To this, Mr Munda informed about the mine ores reserved for the investor which mainly were concentrated in West Singbhum comprising Ankuba, Rome, Luttubaru, Panseeraburu, Barabaljori, Parambaljorti, Jareldaburu, Raika, Hatnaburu, Lambera, Rasbera, Chotuburu and Kasiapecha blocks.

The mines were estimated to possess about 1658 MT iron ore, Bseides, the Chief Minister said the government had instructed departments concerned to explore new mines in the state.

Mr Munda, prior to his visit to London, toured US, where he invited NRIs to invest in Jharkhand with special emphasis on health sector.

The proposed steel plant to be set up by the Mittal group is worth Rs 40,000 crore.

UNI PRS SJC/SBA VV1440