Hopes of steel plant revive in Kadapa district

Kadapa: The decision taken by the state government on November 6 to establish a steel plant in the district on its own has revived the hopes of people. The steel plant to Kadapa district was a long-pending demand and it was assured in the AP Reorganisation Act.

However, there was no progress in taking steps for setting up the unit in the last four-and-a-half years. The district administration is gearing up to organise ground breaking ceremony either on November 11th or by month-end. The project is proposed to be taken up under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with an initial investment of Rs 12 crore.

The state government formed Rayalaseema Steel Corporation, a special purpose vehicle to mobilise funds. According to sources, the steel plant may come up in Jammalamadugu mandal where the government already allocated 2,000 acres for the plant.

It is learnt that a team of officials from the AP Mineral Development Corporation will be visiting the district very soon to inspect infrastructure facilities like rail and road connectivity, availability of power, water supply from Gandikota Reservoir.

Later, they may visit Anantapur district to know how much iron ore and other minerals are available for the next 30 years to produce steel. A post graduate student M Madhu from Jammalamadugu town has expressed happiness over the decision of the state government.

Welcoming the government’s move, APCC Vice-President N Tulasi Reddy said about 1.25 lakh will get employment directly or indirectly once steel plant becomes reality. He stated that the Congress will extend financial support to steel plant after party comes to power at Centre in 2019.

Steel Plant Sadhana Samithi (SPSS) President G V Praveen Kumar Reddy has appreciated Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for taking a bold decision to set up steel plant as Central government was not willing to establish the unit for which protests have been going on for several years.