JSW steel plant in Bengal is not stalled: Partha Chatterjee

KOLKATA: Even as the JSW Chairman and Managing Director Sajjan Jindal said that the steel major has put on hold plans to set up its 10 million tonnes steel plant in West Bengal, Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee today claimed that the project has not been stalled.

"The state government along with JSW management are working together on our demand to the Centre for a national iron ore policy for an uniform supply of the ore among all states to make such projects smooth and more viable," Chatterjee said.

His comments came in the wake of report that the JSW put on hold plans as it has not been able to secure long-term iron ore supplies for the Rs 35,000 crore project,

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and I myself have already written to the Centre demanding a national iron ore policy for its uniform distribution among the states. Hope the matter will be resolved soon," Chatterjee said.

Stating that some news channels were projecting as if industries were deserting the state, Chatterjee said "This is nothing but to malign the chief minister and campaign against her attempt to expedite industrialisation process."

Problems following wrong distribution of iron ore in the absence of any national policy on the issue is a barrier since the time of the Left Front government, but the erstwhile regime did nothing," he regretted.

"When we have taken some positive steps and trying hard to resolve the issue to make such projects more viable, the leftists are trying to malign our image," Chatterjee said.