Mittal may have to shift steel plant in Jharkhand
TNN 22 September 2009, 03:31am IST
Ever since the company decided to set up its 12 million tonne steel plant in the district as proposed in its MoU with the Jharkhand government in October 2005, various groups led by a tribal journalist-turned-activist, Dayamani Balra, have strongly opposed industrialization of their `jal jungle and zameen' (land, forest and water) and are not willing to compromise on any issue with the steel tycoon.
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RANCHI/ JAMSHEDPUR: The steel giant Arcelor Mittal is all set to do what the Tatas did in Singur. Sources said the company was considering shifting its proposed Rs 40,000 crore greenfield integrated steel plant project from Torpa in Khunti district to another location within the state following stiff resistance by anti-displacement groups in the area.
Ever since the company decided to set up its 12 million tonne steel plant in the district as proposed in its MoU with the Jharkhand government in October 2005, various groups led by a tribal journalist-turned-activist, Dayamani Balra, have strongly opposed industrialization of their `jal jungle and zameen' (land, forest and water) and are not willing to compromise on any issue with the steel tycoon.
Industry secretary N N Sinha told reporters in Jamshedpur on Monday that the company might consider relocation of its plant if the stalemate continued. Sources said the groups are not prepared to compromise or negotiate on the issue of displacement or rehabilitation. The company, sources said, is not considering taking the project out of the state. Hiowever, an alternative site in Jharkhand is yet to be decided, sources added.
The Singur unrest was different: the government had forcefully acquired land for the Tatas. But in this case, the government has not used any force for acquiring land nor does it intend to do so in future, sources pointed out.
Speaking to TOI, Balra however said she would continue her struggle against displacement no matter where the Mittals decided to shift their project. "It is the question of survival of tribal heritage, our land, rivers and forests,'' she said, adding that the people in the villages have been protecting these and will continue to do so in the future.
Balra, however, said she had no objection to development or industrialization provided steel plants or power projects were set up on wastelands. "The industrialists have no right to take away our agricultural land,'' she reiterated.
ArcelorMittal needs about 6,000 acres of land for the proposed project.
RANCHI/ JAMSHEDPUR: The steel giant Arcelor Mittal is all set to do what the Tatas did in Singur. Sources said the company was considering shifting its proposed Rs 40,000 crore greenfield integrated steel plant project from Torpa in Khunti district to another location within the state following stiff resistance by anti-displacement groups in the area.
Ever since the company decided to set up its 12 million tonne steel plant in the district as proposed in its MoU with the Jharkhand government in October 2005, various groups led by a tribal journalist-turned-activist, Dayamani Balra, have strongly opposed industrialization of their `jal jungle and zameen' (land, forest and water) and are not willing to compromise on any issue with the steel tycoon.
Industry secretary N N Sinha told reporters in Jamshedpur on Monday that the company might consider relocation of its plant if the stalemate continued. Sources said the groups are not prepared to compromise or negotiate on the issue of displacement or rehabilitation. The company, sources said, is not considering taking the project out of the state. Hiowever, an alternative site in Jharkhand is yet to be decided, sources added.
The Singur unrest was different: the government had forcefully acquired land for the Tatas. But in this case, the government has not used any force for acquiring land nor does it intend to do so in future, sources pointed out.
Speaking to TOI, Balra however said she would continue her struggle against displacement no matter where the Mittals decided to shift their project. "It is the question of survival of tribal heritage, our land, rivers and forests,'' she said, adding that the people in the villages have been protecting these and will continue to do so in the future.
Balra, however, said she had no objection to development or industrialization provided steel plants or power projects were set up on wastelands. "The industrialists have no right to take away our agricultural land,'' she reiterated.
ArcelorMittal needs about 6,000 acres of land for the proposed project.
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