Karnataka to decide soon on providing land to POSCO

Karnataka industries minister Murgesh Nirani on Thursday today indicated that the state government would soon decide on providing land to POSCO for setting up a steel plant in neighbouring taluks of Gadag district.

"A representative from POSCO will be meeting me with regard to providing alternative land to the company for setting up a steel plant in the neighbouring taluks of Gadag district. A decision on the matter will be taken in the meeting," he said.

The proposal to acquire a plot measuring 3,382 acres at Halligudi in Mundargi taluk of Gadag district to set up the steel plant has met stiff resistance from farmers. Religious leaders have strongly backed the farmers. Nirani said he has already suggested alternative lands to POSCO in three-to-four neighbouring taluks of Gadag district.

"It is left to POSCO to decide on where they want to set up their steel plant," he told reporters on the sidelines of the southern regional council meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry. He said Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda also had suggested providing alternative land to set up the steel plant in neighbouring taluks.