| The proposal for the plant was mooted in the 1990's and the foundation stone was laid by the then deputy prime minister, L K Advani, in September 2003. |
| The Rs 300 crore project was to use the Romelt technology developed by Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISA). The NMDC Iron and Steel Plant (NISP) as to come up at Nagarnaar, about 20km from the headquarters of Bastar at Jagdalpur. |
| It was to produce 300,000 tons of pig iron per annum in the first phase and 15,00,000 tons per annum finally by adding two more modules of 600,000t each. A total 403 hectares was acquired including 288 hectares of private land and 114 hectares of government land. |
| Since laying of the foundation stone, no work had been done at the NISP site and only a boundary wall had been constructed so far. |
| "The state government is giving all facilities to set up the plant in the tribal-dominated Bastar region but it will not entertain delay," Singh said, giving a clear indication that the government could take action against the company for further delay. |
| The chief minister said if the company delayed the project further, the government would cancel the land allotted and give it to others willing to set up a plant in Bastar region. |
| "The state government could even consider banning the transportation of iron ore from NMDC facilities in the state," Dr Singh added. |
| NMDC had iron ore mines only in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district with balance reserve of 390.68 million tonnes as on April 2007 at Bailadilla. |
| Most of the ore was exported to Japan. Senior NMDC officials refused to react, stating that officials from NMDC headquarters in Hyderabad would respond. |
| However, sources told Business Standard that the cost of the Romelt technology had increased considerably forcing the company to put the steel plant proposal on hold. The company was considering a proposal to make sponge iron at the site. |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard