Ranchi | May 11, 2016: The state government has identified 1,600 acres of land for the proposed National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) steel plant in Chatra district.
The state department of industries on Tuesday said it has identified the plot in Unta village under Gandhariya gram panchayat of Chatra block, around 100 km north-west of Ranchi. The land currently belongs to the state animal husbandry department. The plot will be handed over to the industries department in the next few weeks, department sources revealed.
Industries director K Ravikumar said, "Land for the steel plant has been finalized and necessary procedures will be initiated soon. The plot will be handed over after a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the project comes into existence". As per arrangement, the SPV will be formed by a joint collaboration of NMDC and Jharkhand Mineral Development Corporation (JMDC).
The plant is expected to have a production capacity of 6 million tonne per annum (MTPA) and is likely to draw investments to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore. However, the project requires around 3,000 acres. A department official said the remaining share of land will be acquired from locals.
Last week, global mining conglomerate Vedanta's Indian group company, Sesa Goa, inked a stage one MoU with the state government for setting up a steel plant in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, which is expected to draw an investment of Rs 10,000 crore.
While the first-phase plot for the project has been finalized, the backward linkages to the plant are yet to take shape, department sources said. The project is likely to import coal from Australia, while the North Koel River will meet water requirements. "We are looking for an alternate source of water within the vicinity," a senior official said. The SPV will be allotted an iron ore mine for the plant, the official added.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)
ALSO READ: India’s NMDC seeks to secure iron ore for steel mill in Jharkhand (Source: http://www.steelorbis.com/)