Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said here that the Centre has plans to set up a steel cluster in Rourkela and double the economy of the city by using locally-available minerals as raw materials.
Pradhan visited the city for the first time after assuming office as Union Steel Minister. He also informed that the Ministry has already prepared plans for expansion of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and the Steel Authority of India has been asked to increase slary of workers as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations.
Steel Industry is now facing challenges globally. In view of this, the Government has made plans to make the SAIL more viable.
“The Government has targeted to increase steel production to 300 MTPA by 2030. Thus expansion plan for the RSP has been made,” he said.
While the Centre has decided to lease out many mines by March 31, 2020, he said the SAIL has taken an in-principle decision to produce 25 more iron from mines. Now, the SAIL has 70 million tonnes of low grade iron fines. The SAIL has been advised to sell out the fines after value addition.
Pradhan said the RSP has more than 30,000 acres of land the plant also needs land for expansion. Plans are there to provide houses to slum dwellers under the Prime Minster Awas Yojana. Sail and State Government should take responsibilities for development of slum dwellers.
