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| JSPL MD Naveen Jindal (left) shows Union steel minister Virbhadra Singh the new plant in Patratu on Saturday. Picture by Prashant Mitra |
Patratu, April 24: Chief minister Shibu Soren and Union steel minister Virbhadra Singh inaugurated a 0.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) wire rod mill set up by Jindal Power and Steel Limited (JSPL) in Patratu, 40km from the state capital, today.
Deputy chief ministers Raghubar Das and Sudesh Mahto, state ministers Hemlal Murmu and Umakant Rajak, legislators Hemant Soren and Saurabh Narayan Singh, Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay and JSPL managing director Naveen Jindal were among those present on the occasion.
Jindal, who arrived here with several top officials, thanked the local people and state government for helping him realise his “dream”.
The wire rod mill will be a part of the 6 MTPA steel plant the company is setting up at the spot _ the third in Jharkhand after the Tata and Bokaro steel plants.
“So many other corporate houses have dreams of setting up steel plants in Jharkhand. But, we have succeeded in our mission ahead of others and this has been possible because the cooperation of the local people and the state government,” Jindal said, addressing a large gathering of villagers and officials.
JSPL bought 550 acres from Bihar Alloys and Steel Limited (BASL) in Patratu in 2007 and began setting up the proposed steel plant. The company also purchased another 500 acres of land directly from villagers.
Jindal promised to step up production to 3 MTPA by March 2012. The plant, he added, would function at its full capacaity, 6 MTPA, from 2014 with a total investment of Rs 25,000 crore.
Patratu steel plant apart, JSPL also plans to set up a 5 MTPA steel plant in Asanboni with an investment of Rs 18,000 crore, work for which has started with a 2016 target.
“We believe in doing, rather than just talking. We also want to set up 2640MW power plant in Dumka and another 660MW power plant in Godda with a total investment of Rs 16,000 crore,” said Jindal, a Congress MP, seeking Soren’s whole-hearted cooperation.
“The demand for steel is increasing. The Centre plans to increase steel production from 65 MTPA to 124 MTPA by 2012. This will become possible only if private houses set up their establishments,” said Union minister Singh in his address.
He said the Centre planned to enhance the capacity of Steel Authority of India Limited.
“We have an investment plan of Rs 80,000 crore in the next two years,” he added.
Though Soren appreciated JSPL’s efforts, he added that corporate houses should not forget the villagers on whose land the industries were being built.
“The normal belief that the economic condition of villagers improves is not true. Several instances in Jharkhand have proved this. Unless the industrial houses make genuine efforts, real development will not happen,” Soren told the gathering.
Sahay, on his part, strongly advocated industrialisation of the state.