Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh informed on Sunday that public sector mining giant NMDC’s Nagarnar integrated steel plant is all likely to be commissioned by next month.
“The work in Nagarnar plant project is in final stage and we all expect it’s commissioning very soon, possibly by next month,’’ Singh remarked at Jagdalpur while addressing a press conference during his ongoing Atal Vikas Yatra.
Singh stated that Nagarnar plant would unleash industrialisation and development in vast mineral rich Bastar region which is made up of seven districts.
NMDC, India’s largest iron ore miner and exporter in public sector, is setting up a 3 MTPA capacity greenfield Integrated Steel Plant based on HiSmelt technology at Nagarnar on outskirts of Jagdalpur with an estimated outlay of Rs 20,000 crore.
He claimed that his Government has pushed development in tribal dominated Bastar region and high class infrastructure facilities including in health and education sectors have been developed in Dantewada and Bijapur districts. He highlighted Dantewada’s Education Hub, Astha, Prayas and others as the models of development.
“I want active participation of each person for development plan of Bastar region. Naxalism is one of the problems but slowly it is being eliminated like the case it was in Sarguja region,’’ he said.
Taking on Congress leaders who hit out at him for doing nothing for development of Bastar, he said that opposition party leaders must visit to Bastar to witness the development.
“There was a time when through single 132 KV connection, Bastar used to get power. Now 200 KV second line and 240 KV third line is ready. Now, there would be no darkness is Bastar as in each village and house the power supply is being provided,’’ Singh announced.
Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is the only state where farmers are being provided bonus on paddy procured through minimum support price.
“This Kharif year 80 lakh tonnes paddy procurement target has been set. Similarly, tendu leaf collectors would also get bonus in Bastar and Sarguja division which amounts to Rs 750 crore,’’.
