Bhubaneswar, Mar 18: Today Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra stated to the media that as the construction work for setting up of the 12-million tonne (mt) steel mill in Paradip failed to begin, the Posco authorities have asked the Odisha government to take back the 2,700 acre land which had been acquired for the same.
Mishra stated that Posco had sent a letter to the minister. As the 2,700 acre land was acquired by IDCO on behalf of the Industries department from 2008-10 for the proposed Posco project, a letter in this regard was earlier sent to the South Korean steel company asking it to clear Rs 82 crore dues towards cess to which Posco replied through the above said letter stating that, the company does not want to take possession of the acquired land and would pay the remaining amount. Therefore, the company requested the Odisha government in the letter to take back the acquired land. Posco also mentioned in its letter that as it failed to begin work for constructing the mill/steel plant in Paradip as required by the lease agreement conditions, it therefore requested the Odisha government to take back the acquired land.
He further stated that the proposal made by the Industries minister to keep the acquired 2,700 land under the IDCO land bank, has been approved by the Odisha CM.
