* Jharkhand.News * <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/blog>
`No mining even if they give us gold` MINING IN ORISSA AND JHARKHAND Sreelatha Menon / New Delhi April 22, 2008 Xavier Dius, spokesperson of the Jharkhand Mines Area Coordination Committee, comprising 52 organisations, says ArcelorMittal's CSR efforts in mining areas are just a means of getting entry there. How do you view ArcelorMittal's CSR programme, since you have opposed the mining? Mittal won't be allowed here in any way. They might be sincere when they talk about CSR, but we will not allow even an inch of land to be mined here, even if they distribute gold. What if they still want to do CSR? There is no entry for Mittals or any mining personnel, even from the government, in this area. For 150 years, especially after independence mining has been done. There are no forests left now. What is the accountability of the metal industry for that? But why target Mittal? No, we are not specifically against Mittals. For us the whole industry is one, just as all iron ore and all steel is one in the metal industry. We rate Mittals on same level as Vedanta and Anil Agarwal, if not blacklisted miners. We sympathise with the 500 steel workers in Grance who are being retrenched after Mittal took charge. Besides where were they all these years? What is the history of their philanthropy or CSR? You feel their claims are not true? If they are talking of CSR today, they are in it for our minerals. I would any day rate Tatas better as they have a better track record. Is it true no investment has taken place in mining in Jharkhand for four years? I would say that no investment in green-field mining projects has been allowed. We don't stop expansion of existent mines. What is wrong with the Mittal project? Are there forests there? The Koal and Karo rivers were seen as a source for water for the industrial belt planned along the expressway from Jamshedpur to Ranchi. For 30 years, we have not allowed damming. You said you won't allow CSR. But how come Mittals have already started training girls for sports? We sometimes can't draw lines. They enter sports through individuals and not under the the banner of Mittals. Besides we can't oppose sports. But clinics and all won't be allowed. For, if they genuinely want to help healthcare they can set up clinics elsewhere. Why are they here, if not for the land? business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=320767&tab=r `Giving shares to people is ridiculous` MINING IN ORISSA AND JHARKHAND Sreelatha Menon / New Delhi April 22, 2008 ArcelorMittal is confident of getting land in Jharkhand as the Church has offered support, says Remi Boyer in a chat with Sreelatha Menon. What is the progress of your mining plans in Orissa and Jharkhand? We have chalked out our relief and rehabilitation (R&R) programme for Orissa. We will plan out the same for Jharkhand soon. Each is expected to cost $300 million. We have completed and finalised a socio-economic study for the Keonjhar district in Orissa where our mining project is planned. The state government is reviewing it. In Jharkhand, we have just started the study. But, some organisations have vowed that you or any mining company won't be allowed entry into the area. They won't allow even CSR-linked activities. I know there are one or two organisations and we are aware of the challenges. What is it that gives you the courage to go ahead, where others have failed to get land for green-field projects in Jharkhand? After attending the workshop with local people in Ranchi I feel reassured that it's possible. The Church is a big presence in Jharkhand and the heads of the Church have offered support. That is not the case in Orissa. Do you envisage offering shares in the annual returns to the people in the area? It's ridiculous to give shares to people who would not know what to do with them. It would be far better to do something on a long-term basis. Hence, R&R is one thing and will get over with the completion of the project. But, it is CSR, which is the ongoing thing. Many people are cynical about your enthusiasm for CSR now, as Mittal has done nothing for the country in the past. We are a new and young company and we are new to India, even though Mittal is an Indian. And so we come with an advantage. We come with fresh ideas. What are some of the activities you have already started? We are developing an industrial training institute (ITI ) in both states. Next year we would start courses. In Orissa, we already have two medical units and will start in Jharkhand . We believe that unless we involve people from the beginning, we won't succeed. So in Jharkhand, we had a successful workshop this week with 70 people. People spoke of why there was resistance and about being let down by companies in the past. The sports training programme of Jharkhand has been criticised. The trainer has been accused of abusing the selected girls. The CSR team in Jharkhand is recent. What we can say is that in the three-and-a-half years left before the the plant is expected to be ready, we want to see tangible signs of change in people's lives. Remi Boyer, vice-president, corporate social responsibility, ArcelorMittal global business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=320766&tab=r *+* yourself @ *www.jharkhand.org.in/directory* . * News TV * <http://www.indian-tv.blogspot.com/>* Blog *<http://www.jharkhand.org.in/blog> * Photo * <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/photo>* Music *<http://www.jharkhandi.org/music.htm> * Video <http://www.jharkhandi.org/video.htm> Live Chat <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/live> Directory <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/directory>** Testimonials *<http://www.jharkhand.org.in/directory> * Forum <http://yahoogroups.com/group/jharkhand>** Contact *<http://www.jharkhand.org.in/contact.htm>
