'Centre, State committed to Posco project in Odisha'

The Centre and Odisha government are committed to the Posco project, Union Steel Secretary Rakesh Singh said and promised adequate raw material linkage to local industries.

"We have discussed the issue. Both Government of India and Government of Odisha are committed to the Posco project in the state.

“We are very keen on and confident of Posco project," he told reporters after reviewing progress of steel projects in Odisha with public sector and private steel makers and state government officials in Bhubaneswar.

Singh's statement on Posco project assumes significance as it comes a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised South Korean President Park Geun-Hye full support for the project, which is the biggest foreign direct investment in the country, during his Myanmar visit.

Though no Posco-India representative attended the review meeting, Singh said land acquisition and other works concerning its greenfield steel project were albeit delayed.

"There has been delay in the project, but we are confident the project will come up," he said.

On the delay in grant of prospecting licence to Posco-India by the ministry of mines, Singh said, "I am not fully aware about it. But, I will take up the matter with my counterpart in the mines ministry after reaching Delhi."

The state government had recommended prospecting licence in favour of Posco-India thrice, but was unable to get them through.

Recently, the state has once again forwarded the proposal for providing PL to Posco-India for an iron ore mine of 2085 hectares in Sundargarh district.