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"We will resolve it soon," chief secretary B K Patnaik said but refused to give any time frame for a fresh MoU after the one signed on June 22, 2005 had lapsed more than a year ago on June 21, 2010.
"The state government was in consultation with Posco- India. There was no dispute with Posco-India on having a new MoU but consultations take time", he said.
The state government had failed to meet two deadlines set for the MoU.
State Steel and Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty had earlier announced that the MoU would be in place by June end and then extended it till July 31.
Replying to a question on possible adverse impact on the proposed Posco project due to the shuffling of certain key officials, Patnaik said the transfer of revenue divisional commissioner P K Mohapatra, who was looking after rehabilitation and resettlement would not have any impact.
Besides Mohapatra, the government had also shifted Paradip additional district magistrate S K Choudhury who had ensured acquisition of above 1800 acres in the proposed plant site villages.
On large-scale felling of trees for Posco project, he said "No illegal work is being done. Trees are cut after getting clearance from the Centre."
