Jamshedpur, Jan 21: Punjab- based Aarti Steel Company has sought the state government’s help in setting up a steel plant in the state.

The company would set up the unit on an estimated area of 400 acres at an initial investment of about Rs 400 crore.

Director of the company Rajiv Mittal along with a official of Tata Steel met the state industries minister P.N. Singh this afternoon at Ranchi and submitted a proposal. They discussed the proposal at an hour-long meeting. “Aarti Steel already has three existing units where Tata Steel is helping them. The management is keen to set up its fourth unit in the state with the backing of the steel major,” Singh told The Telegraph.

During his visit to the state capital yesterday, managing director of Tata Steel B. Muthuraman had instructed local officials of Tata Steel to help Aarti Steel authorities meet Singh. “My meeting with them was slated to take place yesterday itself. But I could not reach Ranchi on time,” the minister said.

Mittal told the industries minister that his group would be setting up a state-of-the-art steel unit for manufacturing a variety of products. “They have submitted the details of the project along with their proposal,” Singh added.

Industry department officials said the investor from Punjab has asked the state government to ensure three things. The plot should be located near the railway tracks so that it is easy to procure raw material and send the finished products to different places. “They have also asked the minister to ensure that the project receives uninterrupted power supply for production,’’ industry department sources said. “The company has also insisted that the land should be located in an area where there is no law and order problem. The area should be a peaceful,” he added.

Hinting that the proposal would soon take concrete shape, the industries minister admitted that the investment proposal was one of the biggest that his department has received so far.

“We would go all out to ensure that the project fructifies in the shortest possible time,” the minister said.

The authorities have been advised by the industry ministry officials to

locate suitable land

in some areas of the state. “It depends on the authorities of the

company where they want to set up the unit. I have suggested few

locations Barhi in Hazaribagh, Chakulia in East Singhbhum, Sindri in

Dhanbad or Adityapur industrial area in Seraikela-Kharsawan,” Singh

informed.

According to the industries minister he spoke to the district

administration officials of

Hazaribagh during the deliberations with Arti Steel authorities and they

have promised to

provide 400 acres of land to the investor.

The next meeting between the minister and Arti Steel authorities would

take place after

the latter find suitable land. “I have told them they should locate the

land according to

their choice. And the industry department would ensure that the

mandatory procedures to

transfer of land is quickly undertaken by the district administration,”

the minister added.

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