A new era dawned at Kulti on Christmas day as Mr. Ramvilas Paswan, Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Steel, inaugurated the commencement of activities for operation of SAIL's Kulti unit that was shut down in 2003. It may be recalled that at the inauguration of IISCO Steel Plant last year Mr. Paswan had resolved to reopen the Kulti Unit within a year. 'We are grateful to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister who stood by us to give practical shape to our dream of brining a better life to Bengal', said Mr. Paswan.
Mr. Paswan was joined by his cabinet collegues Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister for External Affairs and Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs who were also present on the occasion at Kulti, West Bengal.
The trio along with Mr. Basudeb Acharya, MP , Mr. Bansagopal Choudhury, MP., Mr. Ramchandra Paswan, MP, Mr. R S Pandey, Secretary, Steel, Govt. of India and Mr. S K Roongta, Chairman, Steel Authority of India Ltd. were at Kulti to declare open the Kulti unit of SAIL that was once a leader in Spun Pipe manufacturing in the country.
Mr. Paswan informed that the Kulti shall become operational in about 4 months. Operation of Kulti will start with production of both non-ferrous and ferrous foundry along with support facilities in stages.
A detailed study has already been carried out and schedule has been drawn for bringing up the health of equipments and other infrastructure to repair, overhaul, maintain and then operate all the required facilities.
SAIL's Centre for Engineering and Techonology(CET) has been engaged as a consultant to prepare Feasibility Reports for enhancing the level of production, Upgradation / augmentation of Foundry and Machine Shop facilities for manufacturing high value/capital items of SAIL Steel Plants like Wagons.
Blast furnace tuyers, cooler, monkey, bosh plate, phosphorous bronze slipper pad etc. amongst non-ferrous products and Ferrous foundry products such as cast steel pellet frame for sinter plant, gate bar, charging boxes, pig mould, alloy steel hammer, chilled steel rolls, wheels and other casting etc. will be produced at Kulti Works.
Commending the 'steely resolve' of the steel ministry, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee remarked that it had embarked on an ambitious drive to make India a force to reckon with in the global arena and assured SAIL of all support in its expansion activities.
Mr. Priya Ranjan Das Munsi remarked that SAIL has been bountiful to Bengal and continues to contribute to Bengal's development. SAIL has earmarked investment of over Rs. 20000 crores in West Bengal, informed Mr. Paswan.
Commending the Steel Minister, Mr. Ram Chandra Paswan, MP observed that the Steel Ministry and SAIL in particular were contributing to development across the country in various States.
Mr. S K Roongta, Chairman SAIL said that with the closure of Kulti, number of items, which were earlier supplied from Kulti works to SAIL plants/units, were being procured from outside agencies. Over the years with the growing requirement of ferrous and non-ferrous castings and machinery items, plants have been experiencing difficulties in getting such items in time and also with regards to quality and high prices. Mr. Roongta observed that the requirement of castings and machineries will further increase in coming years with the implementation of expansion plan, which can be met by developing a captive source for SAIL for some of the critical casting and machinery.
The Kulti unit has been christened as SAIL Growth Works, Kulti. Mr. M Singh, Executive Director (Growth) has been put in charge of the new unit and posting of executives from other plants to Kulti is in progress as per requirement.