It is blame game again. This time, the Centre and the State Government are the participants in the game over the uncertainty about the Posco steel project. State Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick didn’t lose any time to counter Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharamana’s contention that the State Government was solely responsible for establishment for the proposed Posco project at Paradip. He said the largest FDI project is hanging in balance due to continued negligence by the Centre in last 10 years. “The State has discharged its duty at right times. It has acquired and handed over land to the company. The State has also recommended to the Centre to grant Khandadhar mines to the Posco for its proposed Pardip project.”
He also said that the State Government still hopes that the proposed project would be a reality. Sitharaman had on Sunday, after a BJP meeting, told mediapersons that Odisha Government is accountable to the proposed Posco project. “Establishment Posco project depends on the State Government. It should make its stand clear whether it wants the project or not,” Sitharaman had told.
“It is a farce going on vis-à-vis proposed Posco project. It is also a shame that the Union and State Ministers are making counter charges on the issue, which has been in everybody’s knowledge now,” said Mohan Swain, a Commerce student of a city college here. He added, “Everybody knows Posco wanted a captive iron ore mine on Khandhadhar hill in Sundargarh district but has been denied the same in the changing situation arising out of the amended MMDR Act. Though it was a practice that the Centre was allocating a mine to a project on recommendation of the concerned State, the new Mines Act has brought in a change by devising auction route for allocation of mines.”
Saroj Patra, senior citizen, said both the Centre and the State Government should come out with material results rather than engaging in passing meaningless charges. “First, the Idco asked the south Korean company to pay Rs 72 crore towards land cost. Making no reply to, the company urged the Government to submit expense report of Rs 30 crore it had paid for meeting land acquisition costs. Recently Prime Minister met the Posco chairman in South Africa but no outcome of their discussion was divulged. When these are the facts, why a blame game is being played,” he said.
Meanwhile, the South Korean company seemed to have decided to adopt an wait and watch policy and kept up silence since Mallick offered iron ore through the Odisha Mining Corporation on a long-term basis. In a step that reflects its loss of heart, the company has deleted all mentions about Odisha project from its website www.posco-india.com. It used to update all information regarding the proposed project earlier. The website has altogether been redesigned sans Odisha references.