Hopes on steel plant in Kadapa brighten

Anantapur: Hopes were rekindled for the steel industry in Kadapa district after Union minister Beerendra Singh responded positively to establishing the unit in the district.

Task force teams have completed a detailed survey over the feasibility of setting up the steel plant in the district as part of the post-bifurcation programmes.

It may be noted that SAIL authorities during their survey found little chances for setting up the unit in Kadapa district in December 2014 after grading the deposits as poor.

All political parties and the Steel Plant Sadhana Samiti mounted pressure on the state and Central governments, demanding that they adhered to the promise in the 13th schedule of the AP Reorganisation Act.

Then, the Centre formed a task force with SAIL, RINL, NMDC and Mechan Ltd to study the feasibility in October last.

The task force completed the study and prepared a detailed report on various issues including availability of facilities, land, transport and ore. Mechan Ltd was entrusted with submitting another report in March and conducting a geological survey over available iron ore deposits in all parts of the state in March. The organisation recentlysubmitted the report to the government.

With repeated representations and raising of issue in the Lok Sabha by Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy, the Union minister finally gave a positive decision. “The minister has assured that the steel plant works would start soon in Kadapa district,” the MP said.