Jai Balaji to start work for its integrated plant

Kolkata, Sep 18 (UNI) Awaiting land to be released, steel maker Jai Balaji group hopes to start work for its integrated plant in West Bengal's Purulia district in November.

'' We hope the WBIDC (West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation) will hand over the requisite land soon so that we can start work on the Purulia project from November, '' Jai Balaji chairman and managing director Aditya Jajodia told reporters on the sidelines of the company's annual general meeting today.

The company is setting up a five million tonne integrated steel plant, a three million tonne cement plant and a 1,215 MW captive power plant with a total investment of Rs 16,000 crore.

Mr Jajodia said the company required a total of 3,800 acres for the entire project of which 1,200 acres of land was needed in the first phase. '' The Government will soon provide us with the land, after which we can start the work, '' he said.

The entire project is expected to be completed in seven years, while work for a two million ton steel plant, one million ton cement plant and 400 MW power plant will be finished in three years.

'' We expect to become a group producing six to seven million tonnes of steel per annum within seven years when the project is completed, '' Mr Jajodia said.

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