Demand For Captive Mines, Merger With SAIL
Committee representatives D. Adinarayana, Ch. Narsingarao, P.V. Ramana Murthy and Varasala Srinivasa Rao said the Centre had allocated Rs 11,400 crore, but alleged that the funds were largely being used for bank payments instead of machinery repairs, plant development and workers’ welfare.
VISAKHAPATNAM: Members of the Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and former chief minister and YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to pressure the Centre for allocation of captive mines to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and merger of RINL, the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
Addressing a press conference in Visakhapatnam on Friday, Intellectuals Forum founder-president Chalasani Srinivas backed the committee’s demand and said the absence of captive mines was imposing an additional burden of around Rs 6,400 per tonne of steel produced. He said merging VSP with SAIL, which has captive mining resources, could substantially reduce the production burden.
He alleged that thousands of contract workers were being removed and their Aadhaar cards blocked, affecting their livelihoods and future. He also alleged that workers were being subjected to increased workloads and pressure with the intention of making them accept privatisation.
Committee representatives D. Adinarayana, Ch. Narsingarao, P.V. Ramana Murthy and Varasala Srinivasa Rao said the Centre had allocated Rs 11,400 crore, but alleged that the funds were largely being used for bank payments instead of machinery repairs, plant development and workers’ welfare.
