Captive mines, SAIL merger sought for VSP
The Andhra Intellectuals Forum has urged the Indian government to allocate captive mines to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and merge it with SAIL to ensure its viability. Critics claim current funds are being used for debt repayment rather than plant modernization.
Why it matters
The future of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is a significant economic and political issue in Andhra Pradesh, involving thousands of jobs.
Andhra Intellectuals Forum president Chalasani Srinivas on Friday demanded that the Centre allocate captive mines to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and merge it with Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL). He urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to exert pressure on the Centre to protect the plant.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee at the Visakhapatnam Journalists Forum, Mr. Srinivas said the lack of captive mines was proving a major burden, adding ₹6,400 to the cost of producing a tonne of steel. He alleged that several contract workers had been removed and their Aadhaar cards blocked.
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