Human rights concerns raised over planned $12B steel plant in India
by The Associated Press
Comes after reports thousands of people threatened by illegal land seizures in state of Orissa
NEW DELHI—A United Nations panel of experts is urging South Korean steel giant POSCO to suspend plans for a $12-billion steel plant in eastern India over human rights concerns.
The call by the UN experts follows a June report by rights groups saying tens of thousands of people were being threatened by illegal land seizures in the state of Orissa in eastern India.
The project, one of India’s biggest foreign investments, has been mired for eight years by legal hurdles and sustained protests.
As India’s economy has slowed, however, some legal hurdles have been cleared in recent months, allowing the company to obtain a license to explore for iron ore.
In August, POSCO said it was “deeply anguished” that the June report had subjected the project to “fallacious criticism, distorted facts and erroneous interpretation.”
