NE NEWS SERVICE
SUNNAPURALLAAPLLI (YSR KADAPA DIST), DEC 25
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laid foundation stone for the long-cherished Rs. 15,000-crore Kadapa Steel Plant (KSP) and expressed hope to complete the project within three years. If the project comes into existence, it will completely change landscape of the region on Monday.
Addressing after laying the foundation stone, the Chief Minister said that the Steel Plant is our right as per the assurance given by the Centre during bifurcation but there was no pursuance by the previous government and as son of the soil, I have come here to lay the foundation stone within six months of coming to power and assuring you that it will be completed in three years.
The Steel Plant will provide employment to over 25,000 people and with the Steel Plant, ancillary units are bound to come up which will increase the job potential and change the landscape of this region, he said.
The Vizag Steel Plant was set up after a prolonged agitation and loss of human lives but here being the son of the soil I have come here to lay the foundation stone within six months of taking over the reins. The previous government has ignored the issue for the best part of its term and at the fag-end has taken up the ground breaking ceremony to hoodwink the people.
Normally Steel Factories are set up by Centre and it is not in the purview of the State, but we will go ahead negotiating with those interested concurrently and whichever way, our goal is to see that the Steel Plant is commissioned within three years.
Stressing the need for bridging the yawning gap between the demand and availability of the steel, the Chief Minister said, that the 30 lakh tonnes capacity of the plant would be a great contribution to the steel sector. It was during the bifurcation of the state that the steel plant was promised for this region but nothing was done by the previous government to set up the steel plant in the past five years. That is why we have taken a decision to transform this region into an industrial hub by setting up the steel plant here and moving forward for achieving the goal.
An extent of 3,200 acres has been allotted for the steel plant. The plant would produce five million metric tonnes of iron per year. An agreement has been signed with the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) which would provide iron ore to the steel plant.
Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha, district in-charge Minister Adimulapu Suresh, Ministers Gautam Reddy, Paddireddy Ramachandra Reddy were present.
