Pursuing Steel Plant At Bayyaram with Centre: KTR

The Telangana government was relentlessly pursuing the union government at all levels to set up a steel plant at Bayyaram as mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, said IT Minister K T Rama Rao in the Assembly during Question Hour on Thursday.

Responding to various supplementary questions, KTR said that the Chief Minister was constantly taking up the issue of the steel plant with the Prime Minister during their meetings.

It has been stated in the AP Reorganization Act, 2014, that within six months after the GSI's survey report, a steel plant would be set up at Bayyaram. However, a preliminary report submitted to the government indicated that the quality and quantity of iron ore available at Bayyaram was sub-standard, and the progress has completely stalled since.

The state government however does not see why that should be an issue. KTR agreed with the contention of Congress member G Chinna Reddy that when Visakhapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh could get a steel plant despite procuring raw material from Bailadilla some 500 km away, Telangana could also have a similar arrangement. For the steel plant at Bayyaram, the government could procure iron ore from Bailadilla, which was only 150 km away, he said.

Assuring the members that the state government would continue pursuing the Bayyaram steel plant issue with the Union government, KTR also sought the cooperation of the BJP and the Congress for the same.