Minister Lashes Out At Kishan Reddy Over Bayyaram Steel Factory

Minister for Tribal Welfare Satyavathi Rathod lashed out at Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy for issuing a statement that the proposed Bayyaram steel factory in Mahabubabad district was not feasible due to various constraints.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Rathod, along with Mahabubabad MP Kavitha Maloth and former minister Redya Nayak, said that with the statement of Kishan Reddy, the Centre had poured cold water on the hopes of the Telangana people, especially the tribals, and had also proved that it couldn't do anything for the development of Telangana State.

Rathod said that various expert reports, including those of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the Survey of India and the mining ministry, had suggested the setting up of a steel factory in Bayyaram, and had stated that the minerals in Bayyaram would last 100-150 years.

"Kishan Reddy should first give clarity on whether his statement is personal or the word of the union government. And even if it is a decision of the union government, the people will definitely teach a fitting lesson to BJP leaders in Telangana in the days to come," Rathod said.

She said that since the formation of Telangana State, Telangana leaders including TRS working president K T Rama Rao had made representation to the union government on several occasions urging the setting up of a steel factory in Bayyaram. The Centre had done nothing during the last eight years, and now it is saying that a factory was not feasible giving lame excuses, the minister lamented.

Kavitha Maloth said that the proposal for the setting up of a steel factory in Bayyaram was in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, and that the union government had made a promise in this regard in Parliament.

"After wasting eight years, the Centre now says that it is not possible to set up the plant. Kishan Reddy should resign from his post and tender an unconditional apology to the people of Telangana for failing to fulfil the promise," Kavitha demanded.