New Delhi, Aug. 23: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, assured the Orissa Chief Minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, of faster clearances for the key Posco steel project.
“I have discussed the Posco project and informed the Prime Minister that the work should not be stopped,” a worried Patnaik told reporters after his meeting with Dr Singh.
Mr Patnaik is under tremendous pressure to have the Rs 54,000 crore Posco project operationalised at the earliest.
He also said that the project was good both for his state and the country as a “revenue generator” adding that it would create thousands of jobs for Orissa.
The environment minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, subsequently drove to Orissa Bhawan and had a half-hour interaction with Mr Patnaik.
The Posco steel project has run into a wall because the environment ministry has halted all land acquisition by the state for this project on grounds of violation of the Forest Rights Act.
Sources in the ministry pointed out that from the 4,000 acres of tribal land acquired by Posco and claims of local tribals on 3,000 acres have yet to be settled.