No scope for more steel plants in Chhattisgarh, says Raman

Raipur, Sep 15 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said there was no further scope for setting up more steel plants in the state.

Talking to UNI here, he said 60 per cent of the iron ore reserves in the state were with the public sector Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).

He said the demand of raw materials for other steel and sponge iron plants, including two mega steel plants proposed in Bastar, had to be met from the remaining 40 per cent reserves.

Asked whether the state government was keen to attract investment from major steel companies, including the Mittal Steel, the Chief Minister said such steel giants would require atleast 300 to 400 million tonnes of iron ore, which, he said, was not available within the state.

''There are many new proposals. But we are not considering them now in view of non-availability of iron ore'', he added.

About the progress in setting up steel plants by Tata Steel and Essar Steel in Bastar, he said the process of land acquisition was on and it could take around four months for obtaining all clearances, including from the ministry of environment.

UNI SM/JJ SY Mir BD1324