Tata Steel’s proposed 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) steel plant in Orissa has been put on hold as the state government is facing difficulties in acquiring land for the project.
Tata, which has a sponge iron unit at Bileipadar in Keonjhar district, had considered setting up a 1.5 mtpa steel plant adjacent to its old factory.
The steel major, which sought 100 acre for setting up a second steel mill, also demarcated a huge open space near its sponge iron plant. Though the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation said that land was available near Tata’s sponge iron factory, it said that it would be difficult to acquire for the proposed new unit.