Lashing out at the Central government for failing to act on the proposal to set up an integrated steel factory in Bayyaram, Minister for Industries, IT, Mines and Geology K. T. Rama Rao said the State government will ensure setting up of the steel plant under the aegis of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC) at Bayyaram.
“The inordinate delay on the part of the Centre in fulfilling the commitment made in this regard in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act has dashed the hopes of tribal people desperately awaiting the establishment of the plant for the past more than three-and-a-half years,” he alleged, affirming that the State government was firm in its resolve to establish the plant at Bayyaram if the Centre fails to do so.
He was addressing a huge gathering of youths including an overwhelming number of engineering and diploma students of the coal belt region after inaugurating the Kothagudem Skill Development Centre (KSDC) set up in partnership with the John Deere company here on Tuesday.
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When iron ore is being sourced from the Bailadila mines in Chhattisgarh for the Vizag Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh traversing a distance of about 500 km, why can’t the Centre set up a steel plant at Bayyaram in Telangana, which is hardly a little over 180 km away from the Bailadila mines of the NMDC, he wondered.
Referring to the defunct more than century old Sponge Iron India factory at Palvancha, he said the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has agreed to restart the plant at the same site owing to persistent efforts by the State government.
Efforts are on to equip the local youths with the required skill sets to enable them secure lion’s share of jobs in the upcoming plant, he asserted.
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Telangana has only one airport at present and the coal hub of Kothagudem surrounded by major industries deserves an airport.
The government has given its nod for setting up an airport near Kothagudem which will give an impetus for attracting investments and benefit pilgrims visiting Bhadrachalam.
He heaped praise on Mr. Jalagam Venkat Rao for striving to empower the local youths with employable skills and steering Kothagudem, gifted with large talent pool and endowed with mineral wealth, on the path of progress competing with Hyderabad.
Mr. Venkat Rao said the KSDC will provide training to the local youths in repair and maintenance of tractors and implements besides other self-employment oriented courses.
Minister for Roads and Buildings T. Nageswara Rao, Khammam MP P. Srinivas Reddy, John Deere India Ltd CEO Satish, and others spoke. Mr. Taraka Rama Rao laid foundation stones for the Integrated Collectorate complex and Arogya Sri Bhavan in the coal town.