Kolkata, Feb 8 (IANS) JSW Group vice-chairman Sajjan Jindal Monday said West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has assured him of adequate security for his company employees constructing a 10-million tonne steel plant in Salboni in Maoist-affected West Midnapore district.

'We plan to start work in another six months on the steel project in Salboni, provided we are given adequate security. The chief minister told me six months is a long enough time to improve the law and order situation,' Jindal told reporters after his meeting with Bhattacharjee at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings.

The Salboni steel plant is being set up at an investment of Rs.350-billion (over $7 billion). The first phase of the project will have a pellet plant, iron ore and coal mine development units.

Asked about the response of locals to the project, Jindal said the company has not faced any resistance from people residing there. 'The locals want the project to take place,' he added.

Trouble erupted in the area in November 2008 after a landmine blast occurred on the route of the convoy of Bhattacharjee and central ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada near Bhadutala when they were returning from the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Salboni plant.

West Midnapore is the epicentre of Maoist activities in the state. The radicals are blamed for the killing and abduction of policemen and political workers opposed to them. The state government has launched a massive security operation with central paramilitary troopers and crack units of the state police to control the Maoist menace.