Chhattisgarh: Congress calls for Bastar bandh against Nagarnar steel plant's privatisation on day of PM Modi's visit

RAIPUR: Opposing privatisation of the Nagarnar steel plant in Chhattisgarh, the ruling Congress party in the state has called for Bastar bandh on October 3, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to the tribal heartland for the inauguration of the public sector NMDC's integrated steel plant in Nagarnar.
State congress president Deepak Baij and chief minister Bhupesh Baghel jointly declared their demand for public assurance from PM Modi that the Nagarnar steel plant would not be privatised and handed over to private entities.

The PM will dedicate the Nagarnar steel plant to the nation during his visit to Jagdalpur on October 3, with the dedication likely to take place virtually at Lalbag Maidan in Jagdalpur, where a massive public rally will be held.
Baij expressed concern that the central government is allegedly planning to sell the plant, which has raised concerns among the people of Bastar.
Chief minister Baghel highlighted that despite NMDC's promise to establish a multispecialty hospital in Bastar, it remains unfulfilled. He called on the PM to announce the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for Bastar during his visit. Additionally, Baghel mentioned that Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, is also accompanying the Prime Minister, and he demanded the commencement of flights between Jagdalpur to Jabalpur and Delhi, citing the state government's readiness to provide financial support.
Baghel further stated that the state government has repeatedly conveyed its readiness to operate the plant, but the central government introduced a clause in the tender that prohibits the state government's participation.
The CM revealed that companies like Tata, Jindal, Adani, and Vedanta have expressed interest in the steel plant, but he stressed that it should not be privatised due to its location on tribal land.
Regarding political support against privatization, Baghel noted that former CM Raman Singh had written to the Centre against privatization, and opposition leaders had supported a non-government resolution in the Vidhan Sabha opposing privatisation.
In response to the Modi's allegations against the state government, Baghel assured that an inquiry would be conducted if any corruption complaints related to the Public Service Commission recruitment are received.
Both the CPCC president and chief minister emphasized that the people of Bastar had contributed their land with the expectation of job opportunities and rehabilitation, not the sale of the plant.
The Steel Plant, situated approximately 17 kilometers from Jagdalpur, has been established at a cost of around Rs 25,000 crores and has an annual production capacity of three million tons, producing hot-rolled coils. This plant, representing a significant milestone in Bastar's industrialization, can pave the way for hundreds of auxiliary industries and provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 30,000 individuals.
The foundation for the steel plant was laid twice, initially for a technology-based steel plant in 2003 and later for a unified greenfield steel plant in 2008, emphasizing traditional blast furnace technology. In terms of technology, it stands as a leading plant in the country, incorporating technology from eight different nations. Construction commenced in 2011, and it currently houses the country's second-largest blast furnace, measuring 4,506 cubic meters.
The high-quality hot-rolled coils produced at the Nagarnar steel plant are poised for extensive use in the automotive sector, as well as in shipbuilding, railcar manufacturing, LPG cylinder production, and various other industries.
It has been reported that Union minister of state for steel, Faggan Singh Kulaste, and steel secretary, Nagendra Nath Sinha, will arrive in Jagdalpur on October 2, accompanied by Amitabh Mukherjee, the chairman and managing director of NMDC, along with members of the board of directors.