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| These companies, which had taken the mining leases in mid 90s on the assurance of putting up mega steel plants at Gopalpur, have not set up the projects.
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| The state government had recommended scrapping of leases given to the two companies when they shelved their projects indefinitely, but both had later approached the Central Industrial Tribunal (CIT) and stayed the process of lease cancellation for six years.
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| To release the mines from litigation and make them available for other parties interested to set up steel plants, the state government has demanded expeditious disposal of the cases.
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| The decision to move the Centre in this regard was taken at a high level meeting presided over by chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
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| As of now, 10 steel projects to be promoted by different companies with an estimated investment of Rs 44,000 crore are pending at different stages.
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| The chief minister has ordered vetting of all these projects by the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation (Ipicol).
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| A three-member officer-level committee headed by the chief secretary has been formed to clear the steel projects. The other two members on the committee are he secretaries in the steel and mines and industry departments.
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| The meeting decided a policy framework for streamlining the process of approval of the steel projects and their speedy implementation.
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| The chief minister underscored the need for establishment of more steel plants in the state by utilizing the iron ore reserves as the demand for steel has gone up in the international market.
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| Ipicol has been asked to prepare technical and financial feasibility reports within ten days of a company approaching the government to set up a steel plant and submit these to the steel and mines department and Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).
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| The chief minister said that IDCO should take prompt action to provide government land for the project if available or else the steel and mines department should initiate steps to acquire private land for the project.
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| It was decided that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed with a company only after the approval of the project by the high-level committee headed by the chief secretary. Time schedule for completion of different phases of a project will have to be mentioned in the MoU.
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| During the last decade over a dozen MoUs were signed by the state government with different companies for establishment of steel plants.
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| A high level committee comprising chairman of the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and secretary in the steel and mines department will be set up soon to formulate a policy for supply of ores for different industries in the state. |
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