SAI clears steel factory for Kadapa dist

Kadapa: The Central government owned Steel Authority of India (SAI) has accepted the proposal to establish a steel plant in Kadapa district. According to sources, the SAI has satisfied with the proposals  sent by the AP Mining Corporation (AMC) CMD Venkaiah Chowdary with regard to feasibilities  like 3,000 acres of land at Jammalamadugu,  providing 1tmc water from Gandikota  Reservoir , Power Grid, availability of about 150 million tonnes of  Hematite-62 grade iron ore at D Hirelal mandal of Anantapur district etc and it has accepted the proposal. 

It may be recalled that during his recent visit in Proddaturu town Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, assured that establishment of steel factory is inevitable as the Centre is clear on its part, if state government provides required facilities.

 Later, the Vice-President had consultations with the MECON (Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants), a government of India enterprise and consequently SAI deployed eight- member team including members from AMC of AP in  November last year.  The team had visited in the same month in Kadapa district and submitted report to the Union steel ministry.    

 It may be recalled that in view of providing employment to the local youth, a decade ago late chief minister Rajasekhar Reddy had proposed to establish Brahmani Steels at  Chitimitichinthala village of  Jammala madugu mandal, with the proposal of producing 2.5million tonnes of steel by investing Rs 4,500 crores in the first phase. He had laid foundation on 10th June 2007 for the steel plant. The total project was estimated at Rs 20,000 crores with the aim of producing 10 millions tonnes of steel per year.

 The government had acquired 10,670 acres for the purpose and another 4,000 acres were also acquired in Ambavaram, P Bommepalle, Vemaguntapalle and Thugattupalle, villages in Jammalamadugu mandal for the construction of airport.

However project was stalled after the death of  Rajasekhar Reddy and after the arrest of Gali Janardhan Reddy who was the main partner of the unit. The state  government  had taken back the lands and cancelled the water allocation to the proposed plant during the regime of N Kirankumar Reddy. 

Later local political parties proposed for construction of Integrated Steel Plant (ISP) in place of Brahmani steels which is going to be materialised after 11 years long struggle.

M Srinivasa Rao