The steel plant project by public sector National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) at Nagarnar in Bastar district is nearing completion. There is a strong possibility of starting production at the plant by next year, said Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday.
The Nagarnar Steel Plant when completed would be the second public sector steel plant of the Union Government, after Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) in Chhattisgarh. With the completion of the plant, the social and economic development of the tribal dominated Bastar region would be improved, the Chief Minister said while having a discussion with the Union Minister of State for Steel, Mining and labour Vishnudev Sai here. The Chief Minister sought Sai’s special attention in getting the Nagarnar Steel Plant construction getting completed within the prescribed time limit.
It was the first meeting of Sai with Chief Minister Raman Singh after becoming the Union Minister of State. The Chief Minister also discussed other issues linked to Chhattisgarh with Sai during his meeting.He said that in the Union labour Ministry there were about 15 welfare schemes for the industrial workers, including opening of medical colleges and hospitals. The workers could get treatment at concessional rate in these hospitals.
The Chief Minister asked Sai to make efforts in establishing hospitals in Raigarh, Korba, Rajnandgaon and other cities in the State, after studying the provisions.Mentioning about the mines being run by the NMDC and the South East Coalfields limited (SECl) in Chhattisgarh, Singh told Sai that better utilization of funds from the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Fund’ of the Central undertakings could be made for the good of the people of the State, especially, those from the mining areas.
During the discussion, the Chief Minister said that from the iron-ore projects operated by NMDC in Bailadila of Bastar division, raw iron should be supplied to the steel units of the State on priority.