Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel not moving out of Odisha; BJD leaders misleading people, says Minister

Amidst BJD allegations that steel major Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel is moving to Andhra Pradesh from Odisha, the company on Monday clarified that it has not backed out from its proposed 24 MTPA steel plant project in Kendrapara. 

A senior official of Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel further said the process is currently underway for its project in Kendrapara and it is at various levels of government approvals. Apart from this, the company is setting up another steel plant in Paradip.

Earlier, the BJD had alleged that the Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel is moving out of Odisha and it is setting up the plant in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Also Read: Many industries now eager to invest after govt change: Odisha Minister on ‘Posco’s return’

BJD leader Pratap Jena said, “The former CM Naveen Patnaik had visited Japan and held talks with the chairman of Nippon and undertook efforts to set up the biggest steel plant in Kendrapara. Now the project is moving to Andhra Pradesh which is unfortunate.”

According to Jena, the project is moving out of Odisha due to an inefficient government here. The project would have generated over 1 lakh jobs in the state.

Responding to the BJD allegations, Odisha Industries Minister Sampad Swain said, “Not only Pratap Jena, all BJD leaders are misleading the people of Odisha. Arcelor Mittal company is one of the major companies and is setting up steel plants in different parts.”

According to Swain, when the MoU was signed with the state, the company set up a plant in Gujarat. The company is a major investor and has several steel plants across the country.

“There is no possibility of the company moving out of Odisha. We have held review meetings twice with the company officials. The staff are working on the project. It is true that the previous government had not taken up major initiatives in the last two years. But the new government is speeding up the process. Our CM also held a discussion with the company officials in Mumbai.”

The Minister further informed that the training process has already started for around 60 diploma holders of Marshaghai where the steel plant will come up.

“The BJD leaders are cooking up stories to stay alive in the political scenario. The BJD leaders are trying to mislead people. The industries which were deserting the state are now evincing interest to set up their units in the state. In the previous government, the processes were being stalled. Now the investors are interested to set up their projects," the Minister added.