Chennai: The state government informed the Madras high court that it will not hesitate to take action if imported steel and steel products sold in Tamil Nadu are found to be sub-standard. Industries commissioner Swaran Singh stated this in his counter-affidavit filed through additional government pleader P. Sanjaigandhi in response to the petition filed by the Madras Steel Re Rollers Association by its president N.K.M. Umesh Madan.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian posted to December 5 further hearing of the petition from Umesh Madan which sought a direction to the authorities to ensure that no sub-standard, deformed, steel bars that are over 8 mm in diameter, are imported, stored, sold or used in India. Umesh alleged that of late, sub-standard, deformed steel bars, banned in their home countries, were being imported and used in India. The use of such sub-standard or non-standard deformed bars poses a significant health hazard to the general public.
Construction using such sub-standard bars would also be of poor quality and is likely to lead to building collapses which would have a tremendous cost in terms of human life that cannot ever be rectified, he added.
In his counter, Swaran Singh said in order to regulate the sale of such steel and steel products in TN, the industries department has issued a circular in this connection to all general managers of designated centres. Wide publicity has also been made through newspapers to create awareness about the notification of steel and steel products (quality control) order 2012, he added.
