Pradhan, Oram discuss RSP expansion with Kumaraswamy
BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to expedite the pending proposal of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) for capacity enhancement, two Union ministers from the state held discussions with their counterpart in Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Union minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram and Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Kumaraswamy and suggested to form a high-powered committee to remove the obstacles in the plant's expansion.
Pradhan said the proposed expansion will boost steel production capacity, reduce imports and generate employment, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Purvodaya' vision for eastern India's development. Pradhan and Oram praised the Union Steel minister's commitment to the steel sector in Odisha, and thanked him for his support in resolving the issues hindering the plant's expansion.
With an existing hot metal production capacity of 4.5 million tonne per annum (MTPA), RSP, an unit of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) had submitted a proposal to the Steel ministry for capacity expansion to 9.3 MTPA in 2021.
However, the expansion plan is hanging fire due to land-related issues. A portion of the land of RSP is now under unauthorised occupation of people who have developed slums in the area.
In August last year, the issue of capacity expansion of RSP was discussed when Union Steel secretary Sandeep Pondrik met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Lok Seva Bhawan. Though Pondrik said SAIL is fully committed for the expansion plan, there has been no progress so far.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
26 minutes ago
- The Wire
Delhi's First Trial Run of Artificial Rain to be Conducted From July 4-11: Environment minister
Environment AAP, Delhi's former ruling party, which had earlier suggested cloud seeding to reduce air pollution, has raised questions about conducting the trial run in monsoon. Vehicles ply on a road near the India Gate on a cloudy afternoon, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI New Delhi: While it may bear good news to Delhiites hoping for better air quality, the timing may prove to be the spoiler. Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced that his government would go ahead with a trial run of artificial rain in the national capital to lower air pollution, a first of its kind and a much-awaited welcome move, but he also said that the trial would run between this July 14 and 11 which would be after the onset of the monsoons in the area. Speaking to media persons on June 28, Sirsa said, 'The initiative marks a historic step in controlling urban air pollution. Our aim is to provide Delhiites with clean air. That's why we are taking this bold step of inducing artificial rain. We are hopeful that it will bring about a meaningful change.' As per media reports, the trial would be carried out by the Indian Meteorological Institute as per a plan for cloud seeding submitted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. 'The premier engineering institute has been tasked with implementing the project by overseeing deployment of aircraft, chemical disposal, scientific modelling, planning, and operational logistics,' stated The Hindu. The report does quote the minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) admitting that the weather conditions for the project 'were found to be unsuitable until July 3' but added that 'a widow has been identified between July 4 and 11.' What is of concern, though, is whether the heavy waterlogging that usually happens after the rains across the city would get adequate time to clear up before the artificial rains drop on the city. The report added that the Delhi government has sent a proposal to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which would be providing the aircraft, requesting an 'alternative window' in case the weather conditions remain unfavourable after July 3 so that the trial could be carried out at a later date. It must be noted that though the BJP government in Delhi has pushed for the trial, the Union government run by its party, did not move when the former Aam Aadmi Party's government had written letters to the Narendra Modi government to fast-track the clearances needed for cloud seeding even though it had called it an emergency measure to bring down air pollution in the city. Then Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai, on November 19, 2024, had written to the Union government, seeking PM Modi's intervention for artificial rain in the national capital to combat the worsening air pollution levels. Addressing a press meet that day, Rai had then said that his immediate intervention was required as it 'is his moral responsibility' as it 'is a medical emergency'. However, there was no response from the prime minister's office or his government then. He had also cited a letter addressed to Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav seeking the approvals for artificial rain. He said, 'He (Yadav) has not called a single meeting on artificial rain despite my four letters sent in August, September, October and today.' 'PM Modi should ask his environment minister to convene a meeting on artificial rain. Either give a solution or clear the path for artificial rains. If central government cannot act, their minister should resign,' Rai had told reporters. The Wire tried reaching out to Gopal Rai on the matter but failed to get a response. Following the BJP's announcement, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj, however, questioned the idea for a trial during the monsoons. Who conducts an artificial rain trial during the rainy season, he asked. Sirsa's response gave away his party's attempt at taking credit for it. 'We were the ones who signed the memorandum of understanding first, made the payment to IIT, Kanpur, and applied for the necessary approvals because we want to bring about actual change… AAP did not do anything except talk about inducing artificial rain. Our government (BJP's Rekha Gupta-led government), on the other hand, has worked sincerely. That is why, within just four months of forming the government, we are at the stage of finalising the date for Delhi's first artificial rain,' he claimed. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
TMC must be thrown out, only then peace can return to Bengal: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday condemned the gang-rape incident at South Calcutta Law College and launched a scathing attack at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led government of shielding the perpetrators, with alleged links to the ruling party. Speaking at a 'Mann Ki Baat' event in Panihati, North 24 Parganas, Pradhan declared, 'This is not a matter for a CBI inquiry. The culprits will be tried in the people's court of Bengal. They must be thrown out — only then will peace return to Bengal.' His statements assume significance as it comes ahead of the high-stakes 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. In the last few months, incidents like gang-rape incident at South Calcutta Law College, RG Kar Medical college rape case, series of sexual assault at Sandeshkhali has already put TMC at the backfoot and has given an opportunity to the BJP, which is eyeing to make inroads into West Bengal, once a bastion of CPM. The minister, accompanied by MoS Education and state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and BJP's Kolkata North Suburban District President Chandi Charan Roy, launched a fierce attack on the TMC over recent incidents of lawlessness and alleged sexual violence in the state. 'What is going on in Bengal? The RG Kar incident has already shaken the conscience of the state. And now, another heinous crime has taken place at South Calcutta Law College in Kasba — both linked to TMC elements,' he said. Pradhan lamented the decline of Bengal's legacy in education and culture, invoking icons such as Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, and Rishi Aurobindo. 'This is the same Bengal that once led the world in knowledge, science, and spirituality. Today, it is in the news for gang-rape and anarchy under Trinamool's rule.' The minister also reacted sharply to controversial remarks made by TMC MLA Madan Mitra. 'It is their job to rub salt into the wounds. This arrogance comes from holding on to power for too long. Ravana and Duryodhana also fell because of such arrogance. History and time will answer them.' Calling TMC a mere extension of the 'old Congress culture,' Pradhan said, 'What else can one expect? They remain indifferent to the people's suffering while shamelessly protecting their own.' The BJP has demanded swift justice in the law college case and has intensified its campaign to corner TMC over worsening law and order in Bengal.
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Five petitioners write Open Letter to CJI Gavai, urge early deadline for restoration of J&K's statehood
New Delhi: Five petitioners in the Article 370 case have shot off an open letter to Chief Justice of India B R Gavai urging him to constitute a bench to hear petitions on the unconstitutionality on the removal of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, an early deadline for its restoration and ensuring that no government in future abrogate statehoods. They said they are 'concerned' that the government might cite the Pahalgam attack to again delay the restoration of statehood, which has been promised repeatedly by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament. They wanted the Chief Justice to take suo-motu cognizance of the Open Letter and constitute a bench to decide on the petitioners - former Group of Interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir Radhakumar, former Home Secretary G K Pillai, Major General Ashok K Mehtra (retired), Air Vice-Marshal Kapil Kak (retired) and former Secretary Inter-State Council of India Amitabha Pande - will also be urging MPs across to take up the issue in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.'Not only is that argument (Pahalgam) not tenable, it can be argued that this is exactly the time to do so. The high turnout in the October 2024 elections with no violence, and the absolute majority the electors gave the National Conference…indicated the people had voted for an elected administration with the strength to govern according to public aspirations,' they the way Kashmiris responded to the Pahalgam attack, they said in the Open Letter that the NIA investigations have now found out that the earlier police version that Kashmiris were involved in the terror attack is "unfounded". In an apparent reference to actions like demolishing houses of families of terrorists, they said LG Manoj Sinha administration's 'haste in unjustified punitive action' has caused a great deal of anger on the ground and this has been exacerbated by the sidelining of the elected administration and assembly from security consultations and initiatives for redress. .'The post-Pahalgam environment, which was widely conducive to the re-establishment of peace, is already being vitiated. The most effective bulwark against such vitiation is restoration of civil and political rights, including oversight institutions, that will come with statehood,' they Assembly passed a resolution and eight months have passed since Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha forwarded it to the President, they said adding, no action has been taken, despite repeated requests by the Chief said the government's repeated assurances on restoring statehood suggest a tacit recognition that the removal of statehood is unconstitutional. They also objected to the Solicitor-General's contention in December 2023 that statehood would only be restored in stages. 'This is a policy that nullifies the constitutional issue that no state can be demoted to a Union Territory in its entirety. If that demotion was unconstitutional, then it follows that statehood must be restored in toto," they said while warning that all states will be at risk of similar actions being taken against them following the Solicitor General's laid out letter said it was the first time in independent India that an existing state had been demoted to Union Territory. They had argued in the court that this contravened the Constitution and the basic structure doctrine that India is a federal democracy in which states' rights must be petitioners recalled that the Supreme Court had not ruled on the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of the Union government move because the Solicitor-General had assured it that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time. Then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud urged the government to restore statehood at the earliest while Justice Sanjay Khanna separately had held it unconstitutional.
