The visit of Union Minister of Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh to Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISP), a public sector unit in Bhadravati, scheduled for March 16 has offered a glimmer of hope for workers there on its revival.
A delegation comprising Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar, MPs B.S. Yeddyurappa, Prabhakar Kore, Shobha Karandlaje, and functionaries of VISP Workers’ Union met Mr. Singh in New Delhi recently to discuss measures to be taken for the revival of VISP.
Mr. Yeddyurappa told Mr. Singh that in August 2015, when the then Union Minister for Steel Narendra Singh Tomar visited VISP, he had assured that Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) would invest ₹1,000 crore for modernisation of VISP if the State government sanctioned captive mines for the firm. He said that as the State government passed an order in August 2017 to reserve 150 acres in block number 13/1 in Ramanadurga range of Sandur taluk to allot captive mine for VISP, the funds necessary for modernisation of the firm should be released at the earliest.
Mr. Singh told the delegation that he would visit Bhadravati on March 16 and hold a discussion with representatives of the management and workers of VISP on measures for revival. At present, the total workforce at VISP is 2,100. This fiigured comprises of 1,796 contract workers and 304 permanent workers.
Jagadeesha J., president, VISP Workers’ Union, told The Hindu that citing a decline in the demand for steel, production was not being undertaken in a full-fledged manner at VISP. At present, only Rolling Mill and Forge Plant units are functioning here. The request for proposal from qualified bidders floated by SAIL in February 2017 for engagement of asset valuer, legal advisor and transaction adviser for disinvestment in VISP has created apprehension among the workers on their future, he said. During Mr. Singh’s visit to VISP, the workers will request him to drop the proposal for disinvestment, take necessary measures for modernisation of the firm, and to immediately commence production here, he said.
