JSW’s Bengal plans may get delayed

KOLKATA: The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Sajjan Jindal’s JSW Steel and West Bengal for a greenfield steel plant and a 1,000-mw power plant may get delayed. Apparently, the delay is due to uncertainty over site selection.

The group has lined up Rs 15,000-crore investment for the state. State commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen told ET: “JSW had selected Guptamani near Kharagpur for the steel project. Later, we found out that the site wasn’t suitable, since it was close to the Kalaikunda airbase. Water supply was also a problem.”

“Due to the air force base being close by, the Jindals will not be able to set up chimneys and towers over 200 metres high. We also found out that the army uses the place for artillery practice. We have, therfore, identified a fresh site at Salboni, also in Midnapore. ” Mr Sen said. However, he assured ET that “things would get sorted out shortly.”

JSW Steel chief financial officer Seshagiri Rao told ET: “We are not in a position to share any details about the West Bengal project at this stage. We are in talks with the state to firm up details about the project but we are yet to take any decision.”