Visakhapatnam, July 11
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy inspected the Vizag Steel Plant on Thursday.
The JD(S) leader arrived in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday evening.
The Vizag Steel Plant's president, Atul Bhatt, briefed him on the plant's operations, expansion plans, and departmental details. The union minister gathered information about the capacity, staffing, management, and performance of all departments, according to a release from the HDK office.
During the visit, Kumaraswamy interacted with workers and listened to their issues.
He also gathered comprehensive information about the plant's administration, financial transactions, profit and loss statements, production capabilities, operational capacity, iron ore supply, and worker-related issues in a meeting at the administrative office.
Lok Sabha MP from Visakhapatnam, Sribharat, and other representatives called the central government to provide the necessary capital or merge the plant with the Steel Authority of India.
After this meeting, HD Kumaraswamy held a separate meeting with leaders of various labour unions of the Vizag Steel Company. The labour leaders requested the minister that the company should not be privatised and must be run by the government, as per the HDK office.
The labour leaders also requested the minister to allocate the essential iron ore mines needed for the plant.
Addressing the labour leaders after his visit, HD Kumaraswamy said, "After assuming office as the Steel Minister, I have conducted a series of meetings regarding the Vizag Steel Company. I have had discussions with senior officials and the banks that provided loans. I have visited the plant within just a month of taking office. This reflects the functioning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government."
"Efforts will be made to revitalize the Vizag Steel Company through Prime Minister's ambitious programs, 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India'. The Prime Minister has set a target to produce 300 million tons of steel annually. Vizag Steel will play a decisive role in achieving that goal," the minister stated.
"I have just assumed office. Please give me some time. In the last 20 days, I have spent 16 days working on Vizag Steel. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, efforts will be made to revamp this plant," he assured.
Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, Bhupathiraju Verma, Company CMD Atul Bhatt, Visakhapatnam MP Sribharat, local MLA Palla Srinivas, Director of the Steel Authority of India Limited Kashi Vishwanath Raju, and other senior officials were among present during the visit.