By Orissadiary Correspondent
Bhubaneswar: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) officials have met Orissa government officials and asked for speedy renewal of iron ore mining lease and clearing the forest diversion plan, official sources said on Thursday.
The state has reportedly given assurance to a team of SAIL officials led by Ganatantra Ojha, Director (Personnel) and Executive Director (raw material) Kiran Kapoor.The SAIL team held discussion with Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy and other senior officials to inform them that the capacity of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) would be enhanced from 2 MTPA to 8 MTPA by 2019-20.
'We hope Orissa government will expedite the process of renewal of SAIL's mining lease and other activities,' Ojha told reporters.Ojha said they had faced problem in Thakurani block-A mines which has an estimated reserve of 75 MT iron ore, Horomoto mines and ML-130 mines comprising mines at Barsuan and Kalta.While the SAIL was interested to get prospecting license over Thakurani block-A, the state government stated it could not help the public sector due to litigation associated with the iron ore desposit.
'We have told them that the state could not help SAIL in case of recommending for Thakurani block-A,' Steel and Mines Secretary Ashok Dalwai told reporters after the meeting.However, Dalwai said the government has decided to formulate a committee headed by Forest Secretary to look into SAIL's forest land diversion proposal.
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