SAIL chief meets Orissa CM over iron ore mines

Public sector steel giant SAIL on Monday sought the state government`s help in expediting environment and other related clearances for its two captive iron ore mines, official sources said.

SAIL made this request when its chairman Chandra Sekhar Verma met the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here this evening. Stating that clearance for mining of the two iron ore reserves were significant for expansion of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), SAIL chairman pointed out that the company`s plan for heavy investment in mining sector has also remained idle due to the problem.

Though SAIL had already got prospecting license (PL) over two iron ore reserves at Barsuan and Kantabua, it could not progress due to lack of adequate clearance from the ministry of Environment and Forest. "The capacity of RSP`s 2 mtpa will be enhanced to 4.5 mtpa in the expansion project," Verma said, adding that the company would achieve its target of 24 mtpa production from its existing capacity of 14 mtpa by 2012-13.

Verma said, "The Chief Minister was very positive and assured us to expedite process related to environment and other clearances."