Bhubaneswar, Oct 23 (IANS) The Orissa government Friday reviewed the progress of a proposed $12 billion steel plant by South Korean major Posco that remains a non-starter due to land acquisition problems. The government has formed an advisory committee to expedite the project.
“We discussed how the project can be expedited. We have instructed the officials to finish the land acquisition process for the project,” state Steel and Mines Secretary Ashok Dalwai said.

So far about 500 acres of 6,000 acres land needed for the project has been acquired.

Reports said the government is trying to put the project on a fast track to meet the deadline of the South Korean premier’s visit Jan 26.

The state government has denied it.

“There is no deadline as such. But we are trying to galvanize the project as it is important for both the state and country as it is the biggest FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in the country,” Dalwai said.