Paradip: Public hearing for the proposed 7 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) at Nuagarh village has been conducted successfully at Paradip in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district.
More than 1000 people, including members of the local community, NGOs, representatives of media, were present during the hearing conducted by Regional Office of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and presided over Jagatsinghpur ADM (Revenue) Chinmayee Biswal. A total of 62 of 67 people from the community, who spoke on the occasion, extended support to the proposed project, according to a company release.
It further said that people present at the meeting enquired about the various aspects of the project, including environmental pollution, community & peripheral development and employment benefits. Senior Manager- Environment, AM/NS India, Odisha Projects, Suvendu Kumar Dash explained the management programme to be implemented as mitigation measures to minimise the impact on environment. He assured that the best technology will be deployed for safeguard and protection of the environment.
Nearly 21,000 people would be engaged during the construction phase of the pant and another 7,000 during the operation phase. The local youth would be given priority in employment, based on skills. Besides, the company is also planning all-round development of the local community, the release added.
OSPCB Regional Officer, Paradip, Pushkar Chandra Behera and ADM, Paradip, Niranjan Behera were also present.
AM/NS India has planned to set up the plant at an estimated cost of Rs 38,000 crore for the production of liquid steel with an aim to contribute to the country’s steel production target of 300 million tons by 2030 and to effectively help in meeting the targeted domestic per capita steel consumption of 160 kg by 2030, up from the present per capita steel consumption level of 64.2 kg. This project, once ready, will be yet another step by AM/NS India towards supporting Odisha to achieve its target of one-trillion-dollar economy.
Public hearing for the AMNS plant was held at seaside villages in Mahakalapada block last month.
