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A delegation of Members of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh called on the Union Minister of Steel, Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan today and requested for early clearance for the expansion plan of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) of RINL as well as approval for RINL taking a majority stake in Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL). They stated that the people of Andhara Pradesh were eagerly awaiting clearance for the proposed expansion plans of VSP which would enable the plant to raise its liquid steel capacity from 3.0 million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes. The proposal had already been cleared by the Public Investment Board and was now awaiting Cabinet clearance. Since RINL did not have captive iron ore mines, they were also keen that NINL, a joint venture undertakings in Orissa be either merged with RINL or come under the majority control of the steel plant.
The Steel Minister clarified that the Cabinet note for expansion of VSP at an estimated cost of approximately Rs.8200 crores would be approved within a week and sent to the Ministry of Finance for approval. He stated that he would give top most priority to ensuring that the proposal was cleared by the Government so that VSP could start implementation of the expansion project. In respect of NINL, the Minister clarified that the Orissa Government was not in favour of merger of NINL with RINL and on the contrary supported its merger with SAIL. The Committee of Secretaries had taken a decision to merge NINL with SAIL in view of the strong support by the Orissa Government.
SKM:PM
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