By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand has recommended water allocation to 22 steel companies, according to their requirements, to expedite the greenfield steel projects in the state.
“The recommendation has been made according to needs of the steel companies. We have recommended those companies who are in the advanced stage of setting up greenfield projects,” an official of the state industries department said Tuesday.
The list of 22 firms that should be allocated water on a priority basis was sent by the industries department to the water resources department (WRD) June 9, he added.
The industries have been categorized according to their location and their water requirements. Companies like Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), Narsingha Ispat Ltd, Bhushan Steel, Core Steel and Power Ltd and Kalyani Steel Ltd have been accorded priority for the Subernarekha basin, while Corporate Ispat and Alloys Ltd, and Essar Steel will get water from the Kharkai water basin, department sources said.
Steel giant Arcelor-Mittal, Essel Mining and Industries and Pawanjay Steel and Power are among those to get water from the South Koel basin. And companies like Electrosteel Integrated Ltd, Anindita Traders and Investment and BMW Industries will draw water from the Damodar basin.
As per recommendations, the maximum amount of water will be drawn from Subernarekha basin (247.37 million cubic metre per annum) followed by South Koel Basin (155.58), Kharkai basin (56.26 million) and Damodar Basin (49.72 million)
Mittal steel has been accorded coal blocks and iron ore mines in Jharkhand. The company will set up a 12-million-tonne greenfield steel plant in the state with an investment of Rs.400 billion. The firm is likely to set up the project in Torpa block of Khuti district, though it is still awaiting land acquisition.