Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Monday urged the Uttar Pradesh government to expedite the procedures for the lease of iron ore mines in Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand region to the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).

“We are confident the state government would soon take positive steps in this direction,” Verma said here. RINL had already applied for the lease of iron ore mines in Lalitpur district for setting up a pellet unit in the region. A P Chaudhary, Nigam chairman and managing director, said the plant would provide direct employment to 500 locals.