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Tata Steel, which is planning to acquire land in Kalinganagar of Orissa to set up Rs.21,000-crore plant, mentioned that the acquisition is almost complete. It also mentioned that the work on the development of the steel plant is expected to kick off by December 2009.
"We hope that the land issues will be resolved soon. We hope to start work on the project by December," said Binay Kumar Singh, the vice-president of the Orissa project, while addressing the media in Bhubaneswar.
The residents of Kalinganagar have been protesting against the land acquisition for the six-million-tonne per annum project.
"But let me tell you, we don't want any confrontation keeping in view of the sensitive nature of the issue. We want to forget the past and start the project in an amicable way with the cooperation of local people," Kumar said.
"The rehabilitation work is going on. The state government has also come forward."
The official, however, did not give any definite date for commencing the project.
"I don't give a definite date, but we hope things would be resolved by December and we will start work soon," Singh said.
Out of the 3,500 acres which Tata had requested for, 3,040 acres have been allocated by the government, but the firm has not been able to hold the possession of the land as residents are still indulging in protests.
