BHUBANESWAR: Describing the statement of Union Steel Minister Narendra Singh Tomar that Posco will have to participate in bidding for iron ore mines for its proposed steel plant near Paradip as ‘unfortunate’, the State Government on Friday said there should be a rethink on the matter.
Minister of State for Steel and Mines Prafulla Kumar Mallik said the State Government will request the Centre to accept its recommendations in favour of Posco for iron ore mines. The Government will soon write to the Centre on the matter, he said and added that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will also take up the issue during his next Delhi visit.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh had assured the company and South Korean leaders about all support for the proposed project. It is like making a commitment to South Korea,” the Minister told mediapersons here.
The Minister said the State Government has already submitted all requisite documents to the Centre much before the ordinance on amendment to MMDR Act for prospecting licence in favour of Posco on Khandadhar iron ore mines.
“It is high time the Centre accepted State’s recommendation and fulfilled its international commitment. As the recommendation in favour of Posco was made much before the ordinance on auction of non-coal mines, the Centre should spare the foreign investor from the bidding process,” he said.
Stating that the State Government had also made international commitment to Posco while signing MoU in 2005, Mallick said Odisha would again take up the matter with the Centre.