Latest news with #VSP
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Allocation of own captive mines serves as sole solution for VSP
Visakhapatnam: Even as the resumption of the Blast Furnace-III of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) is commendable, Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee (VUPPC) members underlined that the real solution for the plant lies in allocating captive mines to it. Emphasising that the Central government should work on it at a media conference held in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, the committee's chairman Ch. Narasinga Rao stated that the VUPPC representatives demand that the plant be merged with the SAIL. 'It is apparent that the Central government is deliberately not providing captive mines and pushing the plant into losses. Due to lack of own mines, VSP has to spend an additional Rs 4,000 crore every year,' he expressed concern. Reiterating that the Central government decided to handover the operation and maintenance of production departments of the VSP to private companies, VUPPC chairman D Adi Narayana said, tenders have been invited from interested contractors by 12th July to handover the operation and maintenance work of two important departments of the plant-- the sinter plant and the raw material handling plant (RMHP) to private contractors. 'Likewise, the rest of the departments too will go through a similar fate. Permanent workers, contract workers and officers working now will not have any say in the production. The new contractors will hire their own men. The contractors will run the VSP for their own profits. We strongly condemn this policy of handing over all production units to contractors,' said D Adi Narayana. As the Central government decided to sell 100 percent of the VSP, the relay hunger strike at Kurmannapalem continued for the past 1,583 days. However, the relay hunger strike camp could not be continued as the camp collapsed on June 12 due to rain and the police have been preventing the hunger strike from taking place at the camp, suppressing thousands of contract workers' indefinite strike, VUPPC representatives V Srinivasa Rao and N. Ramachandra Rao lamented, demanding the state government to grant permission for the relay hunger strike camp. Expressing concern over the dismissal of about 5,000 contract workers in the past three months without giving any prior notice or compensation to them, the VUPPC representatives pointed out that permanent employees and officers with experience and skills are being forcibly asked to opt for VRS. The central government is trying to run the plant engaging contractors from other states, depriving locals of employment, they criticised.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Business
- India Gazette
"Double engine sarkar is truly delivering for Andhra": Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on revival of Vizag Steel Plant
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday expressed his happiness over the revival of the Visakhapatnam Steel plant, the pride of Andhra Pradesh, which has resumed full capacity production with the restart of Blast Furnace-3 (BF-3), named 'Annapurna', symbolising abundance and prosperity. He credited the 'double engine' government for the project and stated that the steel plant has increased its capacity to produce over 20,000 tons of steel per day. Ram Mohan Naidu informed that the Vizag Steel Plant is currently working with all three blast furnaces. He asserted that the project showcases the NDA government's commitment to Vizag's industrial backbone steel plant and India's manufacturing strength. 'Vizag Steel, the pride of AP is back in action and now running at full capacity with the restart of Blast Furnace -3. With all three blast furnaces operational, the plant now produces 20,000+ tons of steel per day. This revival has been made possible through the Centre's 11,440 crore financial support, reflecting NDA strong commitment to Vizag's industrial backbone steel plant and India's manufacturing strength', Ram Mohan Naidu's 'X' post read. Further, Ram Mohan Naidu thanked the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. 'The double-engine sarkar is truly delivering for Andhra Pradesh. Grateful to Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi, CM Chandrababu Naidu and Union Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy for their leadership and continued support. Congratulations to all the hardworking employees of VSP for making this possible. From here on, there is no stopping, VSP will shine like a star', the 'X' post further read. On January 17, the Union Government announced that the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a package of Rs 11,440 crore for the revival of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), which operates the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is the first shore-based Integrated Steel Plant in India. It is a producer of long steel products, catering to the requirements of the construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, and automobile sectors. Steel production is a core sector of the economy and is a key indicator of a country's economic development. The revival and continued operation of Vizag Steel Plant at its full capacity will ensure efficient utilization of public resources and help in achieving the objectives of National Steel Policy, 2017. (ANI)
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
After a hiatus, BF-III of RINL buzzes back to life
Visakhapatnam; Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) is ready to operate Blast Furnace (BF)-III which was kept closed for a while. Secretary of Ministry of Steel Sandeep Poundrik is slated to recommence the operations of the BF-III at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) on June 27 (Friday). The Blast Furnace remained shut for the past 10 months due to inadequate supply of raw material. Even as the situation in terms of raw material is yet to see any signs of improvement in the plant, the recommencement of the BF-III is creating a sense of unrest among employees and trade union leaders. Earlier, when the BF-III was restarted, it had to be shut down again due to insufficient supply of raw material. When the Ministry of Steel Secretary visited the plant, he announced that the BF-III will be made operational again after ensuring that the raw material supply lasts for at least three months. According to reliable sources, the raw material is not going to last for more than 15 days now. In this backdrop, the employees wonder how all the three BFs in the VSP would continue to operate with limited resources. Sharing his view, Steel CITU honorary president J Ayodhya Ramu pointed out that the Centre and VSP management are keen on operating the plant with full capacity. 'However, they are not concerned about sorting out ground level challenges faced. It would be appreciable if the Steel Ministry comes up with a concrete solution to run all the three blast furnaces with full capacity in a sustained manner rather than recommencing the BF-III in a hurry,' he opined. In the meantime, a section of employees was given an opportunity to opt for VRS, while others are getting retired each month. Also, nearly 4,000 contract workers were removed from the organisation. 'The ones that were working were removed from the plant. Replacing them, the management is engaging inexperienced workers. This is a dangerous trend as there is a large scope for accidents to recur in the plant,' stressed Adi Narayana, chairman of Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata as the Centre announced a revival package of Rs.11,440 crore to the VSP, the emphasis is more on steering the plant towards a profitable growth. But safety of workers and the plant's sustainability remain grossly neglected.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Make general strike on July 9 a success, leaders of All Party Trade Unions urge people
Leaders of All Party Tade Unions called upon workers and the general public to make the proposed All India general strike on July 9, a success. A meeting of the All Party Trade Unions was held at the CITU Office at Jagadamba Junction here on Tuesday. Condemning the 'pro-corporate' and 'anti-worker' policies of the Union government, the speakers alleged that 29 labour laws were amended and four labour codes were brought out to the detriment of the workers. They said, if these labour codes were implemented, the workers would lose their right to strike, right to form a trade union and their primary right to bargain for a fair wage. They noted that the general strike was being held to demand fixation of minimum wage for workers at ₹26,000, withdrawal of the plan to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant(VSP), taking back the 4,000 contract workers, who were terminated from service in VSP, against privatisation of public sector LIC, banks, ports and airports, oil PSUs, defence, space and mines. They also sought bringing out a comprehensive Act to provide PF, ESI and insurance to unorganised sector workers like auto drivers, muta workers, pushcart vendors and motor workers. They also demanded filling up of the vacancies in government and public sector organisations. The speakers demanded that the minimum pension for EPS pensioners be fixed at ₹9,000 and a comprehensive Act be brought out to protect the interests of domestic workers. They said that as a run up to the general strike, from June 25 to 30, workers would distribute pamphlets at their work spots and in residential colonies to create awareness among the general public on the need to make the strike a success. Gate meetings would be held at all industries from July 1 to 4. A bike rally would be held in the city on July 5, and in the industrial area on July 7. A rally would be held from Dondaparthy to the Gandhi statue, near GVMC, where a public meeting would be held on July 9. A poster on the All India General Strike on July 9 was released on the occasion. AITUC district president M. Manmadha Rao, INTUC district secretary Eswara Rao, CFTUI All India president N. Kanaka Rao, IFTUI State secretary M. Venkateswarlu, APFTU district secretary K. Deva, Public Sector Coordination Committee convener K.M. Srinivas, co-conveners Jyothiswara Rao and Kumara Mangalam, and AITUC senior leader Sk. Rahaman were among those who participated.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Extract public commitment from Modi on continuing VSP in the public sector, CPI(M) tells Naidu, Pawan
A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Visakhapatnam to participate in the International Day of Yoga celebrations on Saturday (June 21), the CPI(M) on Friday demanded that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan secure a clear public commitment from him that the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) would remain in the public sector. Addressing the media in Vijayawada, party State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao expressed concern over the uncertain future of the steel plant, citing widespread fears over privatisation. The lion's share of the ₹11,400 crore revival package allocated by the Union government was used to repay debts and taxes and the remaining for operational needs such as salaries, machinery, and raw materials, he said. 'The package is an illusion meant to mislead the people. Thousands of employees have already lost their jobs, and now the plant faces the threat of privatisation. The BJP, the TDP, and the JSP have all misled the people in the name of a revival package. The recent allocation of mines and port access to the Mittal Group indicates backdoor privatisation efforts,' Mr. Srinivasa Rao said. He also criticised the government's expenditure of ₹70 crore on yoga promotion programmes, calling it wasteful at a time when basic needs like food, shelter, and employment remained unaddressed. 'Millions already practice yoga individually. What people need is not mass yoga shows, but job security and livelihood support,' he said, adding that the funds should have been spent on improving children's nutrition. Mr. Srinivasa Rao also raised doubts about the authenticity of the government's claim that two crore people had registered themselves for the yoga programme. 'The registrations are largely bogus. Even my name has been listed without consent. This is all done to chase a Guinness record,' he alleged, presenting documents to support his claim. Party Central Committee member D. Rama Devi condemned the recent incident in Kuppam where a woman had reportedly been tied to a tree and beaten by a moneylender. 'This is the reality of women empowerment under this government,' she said.
