Jagan Lays Stone For Kadapa Steel Plant—To Complete Work In 3 Years

Kadapa, Dec.23 (Maxim News): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy today laid the foundation stone for the Kadapa Steel plant estimated to cost Rs.15,000 Crore, and vowed to complete the project within three years to bring prosperity to the region.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the Steel Plant is their right as per the assurance given by the Centre during bifurcation of the State, but the previous Government had not pursued the matter. He said that as son of the soil, he has come here to lay the foundation stone in six month 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.

Jagan said that the Vizag Steel Plant was set up after a prolonged agitation and loss of human lives but here he was laying 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 with a view to cheat the people on the eve of elections.

He said 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. He 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 was why they 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 NMDC which would provide iron ore to the steel plant. Jagan said tht for development of Rayalaseema region, water, industries and employment opportunities are essential.

Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha, district in-charge minister Adimulapu Suresh, ministers Gautam Reddy, Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy were among those present on the occasion. (Maxim News)