<p>South Korean steel major Posco’s reported statement in Seoul that it has decided to keep its proposed steel plant in Odisha on “freeze” for various reasons has once again pushed the prestigious multi crore project in coastal Jagatsinghpur district into an uncertainty.</p>.<p>The development, in fact, has already triggered speculations in different circles in the state that the South Korean company is on his way out of Odisha scrapping its much awaited project.<br /><br />The Odisha government on its part said on Thursday that it had not yet received any official communication. “We have not received any official communication so far. Moreover, according to media reports the Posco has stated that its halting its project for time being. The company has not said that it is withdrawing from the project. Let us wait for the official communication”, state Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said.<br /><br />However, the Congress and the BJP, the two principal Opposition parties, have already launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik government for the “Posco fiasco”.<br /><br />“The Posco has declared to freeze the Odisha project and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in the state is squarely responsible for this. It has once again demonstrated the incompetence of the Patnaik administration. The Posco’s decision would affect the state financially. It is certainly a major setback for the state”, said Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prasad Harichandan. Similar views were also expressed by state BJP leaders.</p>.<p>The ruling BJD, on the other hand, has thrown the ball on the court of the NDA government at the Centre.</p>.<p>“The Posco was facing difficulties to set up the Odisha steel project only because of the non-cooperation of the Modi government at the Centre. It wanted captive mines for its raw material needs which was denied despite recommendations from the state government. <br /><br />The NDA government did not want to implement the Posco project perhaps because the previous UPA regime was keen to see it through”, said BJD vice-president and Excise Minister Damodar Rout.<br /><br />The Posco project had been a non-starter right from the word go. It had signed the MOU with the state government for the mega project way back in 2005. <br /><br />Though the MOU had expired five years back, it was yet to be renewed.<br />With great difficulties the state government had acquired 2100 acres of land for the Rs 52,000 crore project. And about 1700 acres had already been handed over to the South Korean company. </p>.<p>But it had run into trouble recently following Centre’s refusal to provide the company iron ore mines on allotment basis. The Union government had made it clear that Posco has to participate in bidding process to acquire the mines as per the new mining law<br /></p>
<p>South Korean steel major Posco’s reported statement in Seoul that it has decided to keep its proposed steel plant in Odisha on “freeze” for various reasons has once again pushed the prestigious multi crore project in coastal Jagatsinghpur district into an uncertainty.</p>.<p>The development, in fact, has already triggered speculations in different circles in the state that the South Korean company is on his way out of Odisha scrapping its much awaited project.<br /><br />The Odisha government on its part said on Thursday that it had not yet received any official communication. “We have not received any official communication so far. Moreover, according to media reports the Posco has stated that its halting its project for time being. The company has not said that it is withdrawing from the project. Let us wait for the official communication”, state Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said.<br /><br />However, the Congress and the BJP, the two principal Opposition parties, have already launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik government for the “Posco fiasco”.<br /><br />“The Posco has declared to freeze the Odisha project and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in the state is squarely responsible for this. It has once again demonstrated the incompetence of the Patnaik administration. The Posco’s decision would affect the state financially. It is certainly a major setback for the state”, said Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prasad Harichandan. Similar views were also expressed by state BJP leaders.</p>.<p>The ruling BJD, on the other hand, has thrown the ball on the court of the NDA government at the Centre.</p>.<p>“The Posco was facing difficulties to set up the Odisha steel project only because of the non-cooperation of the Modi government at the Centre. It wanted captive mines for its raw material needs which was denied despite recommendations from the state government. <br /><br />The NDA government did not want to implement the Posco project perhaps because the previous UPA regime was keen to see it through”, said BJD vice-president and Excise Minister Damodar Rout.<br /><br />The Posco project had been a non-starter right from the word go. It had signed the MOU with the state government for the mega project way back in 2005. <br /><br />Though the MOU had expired five years back, it was yet to be renewed.<br />With great difficulties the state government had acquired 2100 acres of land for the Rs 52,000 crore project. And about 1700 acres had already been handed over to the South Korean company. </p>.<p>But it had run into trouble recently following Centre’s refusal to provide the company iron ore mines on allotment basis. The Union government had made it clear that Posco has to participate in bidding process to acquire the mines as per the new mining law<br /></p>
