The fate of proposed new steel and power units along with the revival of fertiliser unit at Sindri hangs in balance as FCIl (Fertilizer Corp. of India ltd.) withdraws itself from the proposal, said Anutosh Maitra CEO Bokaro Steel Plant. “Illegal encroachments in the closed fertiliser premises is the another hurdle”, added Maitra.
SAIl keen to establish a 5MT steel unit and a power production unit along with a fertilizer manufacturing unit at Sindri along with FCIl in Jharkhand, which needs 6600 acres of land. But land of the closed fertilizer plant has been illegally encroached. About 2000 people are illegally residing on the premises.
"Withdrawal of FCIl is the main reason behind our the backtracking from the project as we are expert in steel production and not in fertiliser," said Maitra. Sindri based fertiliser unit is one of the eight closed fertilizer units of the country which was proposed for revival by SAIl. In a bid to increase its domestic market share SAIl was keen to come up with another steel unit in Jharkhand.
With an investment of about 70,000 crore 5.6 MT steel unit along with a gas power unit and Urea Fertiliser unit were proposed to come-up on the space belonging to the closed fertiliser mill at Sindri in Dhanbad district.