Karnataka to notify land for Mittal plant at Bellary today

Karnataka to notify land for Mittal plant at Bellary today

Bangalore, Feb 5 (PTI) DH News :

Karnataka will set in motion today the process of acquiring 4,800 acres in Bellary for the mega steel plant being set up by ArcelorMittal, a top official said.

"The government has approved the land acquisition at Kudathini in Bellary district and the preliminary notification will be issued tomorrow in the state gazette", state principal industry secretary VP Baligar told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

ArcelorMittal plans to set up a Rs 30,000-crore steel plant with 6mtpa capacity and also a 750mw captive power generation unit, he said.

"We had kept everything ready. Their team visited the place for third time yesterday and said these villages are fine. As soon as they gave me the green signal this morning, we got the approval from chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and we have notified these lands", he said.

Mittal had evinced interest in 4,800 acres located near a Karnataka Power Corporation project, Baligar said adding the land is ready and "we will lend immediately to Mittal."

The Mittal investment would entail job generation of over 10,000 in the long-term, he said.

Mittal's firm had earlier evinced interest to locate their plant at Bijapur, but later chose Bellary, an iron ore rich district, which the government accepted.

Replying to a question on Korean Posco Steel's interest in setting up a plant in the state, Baligar said, "a team had come, they had discussions and we are hopeful. The company was looking at land around Bellary. "But they have not decided".

On mines for these steel plants, he said some mining area in Bellary has been notified. Other mines are also open for application. "They have applied and it has to be decided," he said. In terms of provision of water, he said part of it will come from the Tunghabadra dam and other from the Upper Krishna.

Meanwhile he also said Hero Honda evinced interest to set up a plant entailing an investment of Rs 200 crore, he said, "a team had come, they have seen three sites, one in Hubli and two in Dharwad".

The Hero Honda would require 100 acres for themselves, and 200 acres for ancillaries and may be 100 acres for a township in the long term too, he said, adding however that nothing has been finalised.

Egyptian company Kapsci Coating, which was interested in seeting up a plant for paints, had also been looking for land near Bangalore. "They have seen two-three sites, they will get back to us", he said.