JSW Steel has requested the West Bengal Government to facilitate long-term sustainable supply of iron ore for the “active implementation” of the company’s Bengal steel project.
“We are committed to the Bengal project and have spent over ₹600 crore. Unfortunately, iron ore, which is the critical input for steel making, is not made available for steel companies. Instead, India has granted mining concessions to merchant miners, encouraging export of iron ore and import of steel,” said a JSW communication quoting an unnamed spokesperson.
The communication was issued on Tuesday in response to a reported statement by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday that the land allotted to the company in West Midnapur district for the project might be taken back if it fails to stick to the project plan.
JSW had entered into an agreement with the West Bengal Government in 2007 for a 10-million-tonne steel plant, but work on the project was delayed.
Compounding the problem, JSW said iron ore-bearing States were now restraining the movement of the mineral to other States threatening the survival of steel companies in non-iron ore bearing States.
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