Activists to oppose ArcelorMittal Torpa plant

ArcelorMittal may have zeroed in on Torpa for its 12-million-tonne steel project in Jharkhand. But the Jharkhand Mines Area Coordination Committee (JMACC) has vowed that the steel giant will face a tough fight.

Said Xavior Dius, who heads JMACC, which has so far thwarted any land acquisition in the state, "We won't allow the Mittals to even enter Torpa." The Committee is an alliance of 52 local organisations across Jharkhand.

ArcelorMittal's London-based executive vice-president Sudhir Maheshwari recently sent a letter to the state chief secretary P P Sharma stating that the steel major had selected Torpa for its proposed steel project. The steel major needs nearly 10,000 acres for its steel project and township.

The main obstacles to the project are the two rivers Koyal and Karo that flow through Torpa. JMACC has resisted the construction of a dam on these rivers for the past 30 years.

Dius said JMACC had managed to keep the Tatas and Jindals out so far. Last week, activists took hostage the workers of a company called Abhijeet, which wanted to build a steel plant in the state. Two Chinese engineers were also taken hostage. They were all released, Dius said.