Centre positive on setting upsteel plants in Kadapa, Vizag.

The Central government has responded positively and agreed to set up an integrated steel plant at Kadapa and cold rolled coils steels plant at Visakhapatnam, according to Mines and Geology Minister R. Venkata Sujaya Krishna Ranga Rao.

Union Minister of Steel Choudary Birendra Singh conducted a task force meeting with the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State mines ministers, secretaries, SAIL, Mecon officials in New Delhi on Thursday.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary, Telangana IT Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao and others were present at the meeting.

Mr. Ranga Rao, talking to reporters, said that iron ore resources available in Kadapa, Anantapur and Prakasam districts would be used in the integrated steel company.

The Central government was ready to launch the project. Mecon presented the feasibility report to the Centre which was discussed at the meeting.

The State government submitted all details to the Centre following its request to furnish short term and long-term issues relating to the proposal.

The Andhra Pradesh government told the Centre that employment opportunities would improve in the Rayalaseema region if the integrated steel company was set up.

It would also help in developing the region, he added.

The Minister said that the Centre had agreed to set up the cold rolled coils steel unit in Visakhapatnam. The State government would have to provide land, power, gas, and other facilities.

The proposed unit would come up under supervision of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL), he said, adding, a report would be submitted to the Centre after discussing with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

THE HINDU