Panel seeks report on ArcelorMittal mines leases from Jharkhand.

A central panel has asked Jharkhand to clarify soon whether the existing and proposed mining leases of ArcelorMittal for its planned Rs. 50,000-crore plant in the state fell under a conservation reserve or not.

The development comes in the wake of a Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) examining the application of world's largest steel maker for diversion of 202 hectares of reserved forest area in its favour for iron ore and manganese mining in Saranda forest division in West Singhbhum district.

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of MoEF has recommended: 'The state government should clearly state whether the forest area falling in this lease is outside the conservation reserve or not as per the IWMP' ( Integrated Wildlife Management Plan).

ArcelorMittal has plans to set up 12 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) steel plant in Jharkhand at an estimated investment of Rs. 50,000 crore. The proposal is stuck for over eight years now for want of regulatory clearances and land acquisition.

ET