Steel industries across the country need to build an efficient environment for healthy competition and positive growth so that they can escalate production and achieve the target set for 2025, said prominent speakers on the first day of the national level seminar organized by NIT, Durgapur, Alumni Association (NITDAA) Chapter on ‘Indian Steel Industries - Opportunities and Challenges (ISI OPAC 2)’ in Ranchi on Saturday.
The main agenda of the seminar was to bring out new strategies for the prosperity of steel industries, and solve the problems already troubling the system.The president of NITDAA, PP Sengupta welcomed all delegates, researchers and executives. He highlighted that there are a lot of opportunities in this industry. The need to take proper care of environment and not treat it as a dustbin was also briefly discussed by him.
K Chattopadhyay, alumni of NIT Durgapur and currently heading the Material Engineering Department at the IISC, Bangalore, was the chief guest on the occasion. “Steel industries first need to be efficient to provide competition. They will have to survive by selling their products first in India, then abroad. Jharkhand is a leading figure in steel sector. It can contribute to India’s growth a lot more than what it is doing currently. It took 25 years to bring out Tejas Aircraft by HAl but the breakthrough was comprehensive. We need to strengthen our capability to dominate nations like China in this section,” said Chattopadhyay.
Dr BK Jha, Executive Director (RDCIS) SAIl, said, “To enter the category of developed nation we need a prosperous government. Till 2025, we can come second after China if we produce 300m tonnes of steel annually, almost twice the quantity being produced now. Elevation in coal, stabilizing iron ore and coal supply, and lower carbon footprints should be achieved. In 2012, 800 billion worth turnover in steel industry was attained. We should be gainers, not losers.”
“There has been a 10 per cent production and 7 per cent consumption of steel per annum in 2007-2011. According to NSP (National Steel Policy) 2005, Rs 1 million crore will be required to raise 200 mn. tonnes of steel. land clearances must be reduced to maintain the devotion of manufacturers and entrepreneurs. Foreign and domestic outlook needs to be balanced,” K Saha, Director (HEC) mentioned.
“Steel can only be replaced by better quality steel. Over the last decade there has been a lot of progress in steel and iron sector. Skilled workforce, efficient capital management, becoming more customer-centric and investing in raw material security must be used efficiently. The demand supply chain must not be disturbed,” said N. Mathur, Executive Director of CET.
S. Chattopadhyay, Director (Projects) MECON said that the per capita steel consumption in India is only 60 Kg. “Steel should be utilized in a much better and higher quantity, especially in rural areas. Steel industries contribute to 60 per cent of pollution in environment. We should concentrate more on safety issues and careful in selecting technology. Roads, land and workers need to be up to date. Poor quality ore is used in blast furnaces. India is having cheap flavor in accordance with developed nations.”The focus on ill-effects of steel industry on our environment was rarely discussed. The second conference will be taking place on December 14.