'No decision on swapping clause for renewed MoU with Posco'

Put in a fix over controversial iron ore swapping clause in the lapsed MoU with Posco-India, Orissa government on Tuesday asked different departments to give their views within 15 days on possible deletion and addition of new points in the renewed MoU with the South Korean firm.

"No decision has been taken at today's meeting. The secretaries of concerned departments are asked to give their considered opinion on different subjects, including swapping clause. Chief minister will take a final decision," said chief secretary B K Patnaik who presided over a preparatory meeting ahead of the renewal of MoU with Posco-India.

The state government which had earlier announced to renew the MoU with Posco-India by end of this month, held a detailed discussion on the swapping clause, water sources for Posco's proposed 12mtpa steel mill near Paradip, mandatory reservation of jobs for local youths and other subjects.

Though the MoU with the South Korean steel major lapsed on June 21, last year the state government was yet to renew it, mostly due to the controversial swapping clause in the lapsed MoU, officials said.

The swapping clause in the lapsed MoU had also been criticised by the Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh while according the final forest clearance for Posco's greenfield mega steel project.