'Mittal to set up steel plants in Jharkhand, Orissa'

Kolkata, Aug 11: Mittal Steel is serious about setting up integrated steel plants in both Jharkhand and Orissa, its chief executive officer Dr Sanak Mishra said today.

Dr Mishra said he met Jharkhand chief secretary last week and is looking at land sites in the state. "We need large tracks of land since its a mega project," he said.

He said the Mittal Steel has narrowed down on three sites for the project in Jharkhand--Saraikala, Galudi and Torpi.

The minimum land requirement would be at least 10,000 acres since the company intends to develop a green belt and a residential township along with the integrated steel plant, Dr Mishra said.

He said the product mix for the Jharkhand project is ready and it would be announced by September. The detailed project report for the project would be ready by October or December, he said.

On the Orissa project, he said Mittal Steel is in the process of appointing a consultant in 10 days.

He said the company is looking at four to five locations and decision would depend on the report on the consultant's report.

Mittal Steel is also talking to both the Jharkhand and Orissa government for mining lease.

"We are looking at large sized mines which have high iron ore content," he said.

UNI