Dhanbad/Bokaro, April 18: Union coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal today held the state government responsible for the delay in relocation of people from fire-affected areas in Jharia, arguing the Centre had poured sufficient funds into the rehabilitation plan. “The Union government can offer money, technical expertise and even lay out a plan on how to put out the raging fire in Jharia, but the work has to be done by the state government. The Centre cannot be blamed,” Jaiswal told The Telegraph at the Bokaro aerodrome en route to Dhanbad.

State govt mulls cancelling contracts with JSW Ispat and Bhushan Steel
Worried over the tardy progress made by the steel makers, the Jharkhand government is considering to cancel the MoUs it entered with Ispat (now JSW Ispat) and Bhushan Steel for setting up steel projects in the state. In the last couple of years the government has cancelled 27 of its 75 MoUs — the most recent being that of Sesa Goa.

In fresh proposal, co asks for 2,210 acres at Bijulia, Tughri, Gopidih & Chackmohanpur in Bokaro
In a slight change in strategy towards setting up a greenfield steel unit in India, the world’s largest steel maker, ArcelorMittal, has asked the state government of Jharkhand for an additional 2,210 acre in an attempt to hasten the progress of its proposed 12 mtpa greenfield plant in the state.

Bokaro district administration, Central Coalfields Limited, railway authorities, mining and forest officials will jointly crack down on illegal coal miners from Friday. Concerned over rampant illegal mining in Chas and Bermo subdivisions of Bokaro, from where tonnes of coal are smuggled out daily on dumpers, trucks and even passenger trains, the crackdown will focus on illegal miners and transporters alike.

Kolkata Government-owned Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is close to getting two coking coal blocks, Tasra and Sitanala, in Jharkhand, which will enable the steel major to mine coal in India for the first time.

A source close to the development told Fe the two coking coal blocks have a reserve of around 45 million tonne. SAIL aims at producing 40 lakh tonne a year, for which it could invest up to R16,000 crore. SAIL chairman CS Verma, however, declined to comment on the issue, citing confidentiality norms.

Bokaro, Feb. 22: Sudesh Mahto today laid the foundation stones for two road projects and promised Rs 50 crore for renovating a decades-old barrage in Chandankyari, claiming that Ajsu had done more for the backward block in 26 months than any other party did in five decades. The two road projects — Jodhadih More to Chandankyari worth Rs 14.59 crore and from Mamar Kudar to Dubey Kant estimated at over Rs 6.50 crore — will together comprise over 50km.

The district administration has filed a case against Bokaro Thermal Power Station (BTPS) for releasing hazardous industrial waste into the Konar river in spite of repeated reminders asking the DVC–run company to take preventive measures. The case (1/2012), filed by Bermo sub-divisional officer (SDO) B.N Choubey on Februray 4 in his own court on behalf of the district administration, seeks an explanation from BTPS chief engineer J.P Singh under section 133(1K) of IPC dealing violation of pollution norms.

The Bokaro deputy commissioner has ordered the heads of mining companies and the district administrative and police brass to fill up abandoned and illegal mines in the coal belt following two incidents of cave-ins that killed seven women last week. In a letter sent on Tuesday from his confidential section to the general managers of coal firms, SDOs, circle officers, foresters, mining officials and policemen, DC Sunil Kumar has asked them to identify illegal miners and file FIRs against the culprits.

Chandrapura (Bokaro), Feb. 7: Five women — all illegal miners — were buried alive when the roof of a 15ft deep coal pit collapsed on them near Chandrapura junction, 35km from Bokaro steel city, this noon. Two others were injured in the incident. That the mishap took place at Jhungurghuttu, which is a stone’s throw from a bustling railway station and barely 400 metres from the Chandrapura police station, is a clear indication that illegal mining continues unabated in the coal belt region despite the administration’s tall promises to curb the menace.

New Delhi, Feb. 7 (PTI): The world’s largest steel maker ArcelorMittal, which was unable to get regulatory approvals for its proposed $30-billion investments, has for the time being put on hold its India business plans. “It is very difficult to say any thing... When will we start the construction, when we will really make progress. We are not even counting them in our business plans for the next few years,” ArcelorMittal chief L.N. Mittal said while announcing the results for 2011 in a conference call.