Mr Beni Prasad Verma the minister of steel in a written reply in the Lok Sabha informed that although, progress of each and every steel project is not monitored by the Ministry of Steel, some of the major steel projects where no noticeable progress has been made from date of signing of MoUs are as follows:

TATA Steel - Odisha - 6 million tonnes - 2004

Preliminary work on land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement is on. Company has sought grant for mining lease from the State Government. Order for equipment and services has been placed and some consignments have already arrived.

TATA Steel - Chattisgarh - 5 million tonnes - 2005

Land has been acquired by State Government, approval received for drawing water from Sabri River, Ministry of Railways has granted in principle approval for railway corridor, public hearing for the Environment Clearance successfully conducted. Prospecting License for iron ore granted in Bailadila-I deposits

JSW Steel - Jharkhand - 10 million tonne - 2005

Approvals for setting up the project are being pursued

JSW Steel - West Bengal - 10 million tonne - 2007

Financial closure is under planning

POSCO India - Odisha - 12 million tonne - 2005

Land Acquisition facing local protest; MoU expired, revived with capacity scaled down at 8 million tonne from 12 million tonne

ArcelorMittal - Jharkhand - 12 million tonne - 2005

Land acquisition under-way

ArcelorMittal - Odisha - 12 million tonne - 2006

Land availability still a major issue.