23 steel projects still await environment clearance

New Delhi, Dec 21: There are currently 23 steel projects in India that are stalled owing to grant of environment clearance, parliament was informed on Monday.

"Presently, 23 steel projects are pending due to grant of Environment Clearance, out of which 2 steel projects are from Maharashtra," Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

The projects stuck include those of major companies like Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Essar Steel and Posco.

Sai said Tata Steel's expansion of crude steel production from 9.7 million tons per annum to 11 MTPA in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand is stuck, as is JSW Steel's proposed 10 MTPA integrated steel and power plant in the same state.

Similarly, Essar Steel's project of replacement of electric arc furnace of its steel making plant by basic oxygen furnace at Hazira in Gujarat is pending.

IANS