AM/NS India's Paradip Steel Project Receives Overwhelming Local Support
Bhubaneswar: For AM/NS India, a joint venture firm of ArcelorMittal and Japan’s Nippon Steel, Wednesday was a day of assurance as it got overwhelming support of the local people in Odisha’s Paradip for its proposed 7-MTPA steel project.
The day-long public hearing held at Nuagarh marked the residents of local villages airing their concerns and demands and the company authorities assuring and committing them for addressing all their issues.
The proposed steel mill will come up at Nuagarh village near to AM/NS India’s existing pellet plant with an estimated project cost Rs 38,000 crore.
There will be an engagement of nearly 21,000 people during the construction phase of the project and nearly 7,000 people during the operation phase.
According to a company communiqué, the local youth would be given priority in employment, based on skills. Besides, the company has set an aim to bring all-round development in the local community.
AM/NS India senior manager (environment-Odisha project) Suvendu Kumar Dash explained that the probable impact envisaged will be addressed to as per the environment management programme and mitigation measures to minimise the impact on local ecology. He assured that the best technology would be deployed for safeguard and protection of the environment.
People present in the public hearing meeting enquired about the various aspects related to environmental pollution, community and peripheral development, employment benefits, which were then apprised by AM/NS India representatives.
More than one thousand people, including members of the local community, non-governmental organisations and media personnel were present during the hearing.
A total of 67 persons from the community spoke on the occasion, out of which 65 persons spoke in favour of the proposed project and extended their support. The meeting, conducted by the regional office of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), was also attended by senior officials of the state government.
