Korean Steel major Posco has moved a step closer to start work on the much-delayed $12-billion steel project in Orissa with the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) likely to give it the assurance to supply full quantity of iron ore for the plant under a negotiated price if the Supreme Court order on the linked mines goes against the company.

Sources in the know said the state government has indicated that this option (iron ore at a cheaper negotiated price) could be worked out. The detailed discussions between the companies and government officials are expected to start soon.

BHUBANESWAR: The state government is planning to restart land acquisition work the mega Posco steel project in Jagatsinghpur district soon, official sources said on Monday.

With the Budget session of the state assembly having ended last week, the Naveen Patnaik dispensation is making all arrangements to go all-out to give the proposed 12 billion US dollars FDI project a push, a senior government officer said.

In line with its policy to encourage low-cost housing projects, the government is considering allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in such projects, subject to a host of conditions, including a

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Sunday resumed land acquisition for the proposed Posco steel plant in Jagatsinghpur district, a day after three persons were killed in a bomb blast in the project area.

Official sources said government representatives demolished three betel vines at Gobindapur village, restarting land takeover for Posco after about a month. The government was forced to stop land acquisition work in the first week of February due to stiff opposition from a section of villagers.

BHUBANESWAR: Taking advantage of the budget session being in recess, the Odisha government has begun preparations to shortly resume land acquisition for the proposed Posco steel project in Jagatsinghpur district, official sources said on Wednesday.

"We intend to restart land acquisition for Posco this week," a government source told TOI, refusing to divulge the date from which the operations would be launched again. The issue was discussed at a meeting chaired by chief secretary B K Patnaik on Tuesday evening, but government and Posco representatives are tight-lipped about the deliberations.

The Economic Survey has come down heavily on the government for holding on to grain stocks, which, it says, has resulted in ‘artificial shortages’, in turn, causing a spiral in prices. The survey called for investment in stock management and improving the marketing system of agricultural produce for increasing farmers’ income.

“This policy of stocking grain well above the buffer norms comes under criticism on the grounds of hoarding and creating artificial shortages in the market, thereby jacking up the prices of essential commodities. Urgent attention needs to be accorded to efficient food stock management, timely offloading of stocks, and a stable and predictable trade policy,” said the economic survey (2012-13).

Economic Survey 2013: Agriculture reforms must, says report. With agriculture growth rate falling short of the 4 per cent target in last five years, the sector needs urgent reforms to boost crop yields and private investment in infrastructure so as to motivate farmers and feed the growing population.

The farm sector achieved 3.6 per cent growth during the 11th Five year Plan (2007-12), falling short of the 4 per cent growth target, although it was much higher than growth of 2.5 and 2.4 per cent during 9th and 10th Plans, it added.

KENDRAPADA: More than 250 international human rights organizations, comprising social workers, scientists, legal luminary activists, academics among others, have strongly criticized the Odisha government for using forces to acquire fertile lands and betel vines in the proposed Posco site in Jagatsinghpur district. They also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday, urging him to stop land acquisition works in these areas.

In the letter, they also condemned the use of force against protesters, including women and children. They stated in their letter that the most recent wave of police violence between February 3 and 6 in Gobindapur village saw the men in uniform use the same pattern of abuse, threats, and intimidation by the government to forcibly acquire land for Posco's steel processing plant.