A team from the Union Steel ministry today met with the state government to find ways to increase production and consumption of steel in the region.
Per capital consumption of steel in Himachal Pradesh at 15 kg is much lower than the national average of 48 kg, Steel Ministry Secretary Atul Chaturvedi told reporters.
“Through sustained efforts our target is to make HP a ’steel hub,’ which could meet enhanced needs of steel not just in HP but also in neighbouring states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttrakhand, Punjab and Haryana,” Chaturvedi, who headed the central team, said.
He said the ministry and other central PSUs would encourage local entrepreneurs by providing free consultancy, raw materials and also help in marketing finished products.
Describing talks with the state government as “positive and encouraging,” the Steel secretary said his ministry along with PSUs like SAIL, NMDC, Ispat Nigam and MECON would encourage local businessmen to make more steel items.
He identified great scope for production of stainless steel, which could be converted into making household utensils, steel pipes and angles for power transmission line in the state.
