Said, "Steel Ministry is making efforts to bridge the gap in steel consumption between rural and urban India" Bettiah, Bihar / New Delhi, 18 February, 2019: : Union Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh and Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan dedicated SAIL's Steel Processing Unit situated at Bettiah in West Champaran, Bihar to the Nation today. High quality steel tubes and pipes will be produced by this Unit.
On this occasion, Shri Sushil Modi, Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar, Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, MP from west Champaran, Shri RS Pande, MLA from Bagha Vidhan Sabha Constituency and Shri Prakash Rai, MLA from Chanpatiya Vidhan Sabha Constituency, Shri Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Chairman SAIL, Shri Puneet Kansal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel were present. Also, local leaders, senior government officials, steel dealers and consumers and a large number of people were present during the occasion.
While lauding the SPU at Bettiah as a major step for fulfilling local steel requirements, Steel Minister Chuadhary Birender Singh said, "I am very happy to share with you that Steel Ministry under the National Steel Policy 2017 targets to double its capacity and take it to 300 Million Tonnes by 2031; while also emphasizing to increase the rural steel consumption. This step will surely help in bridging the gap in steel consumption between rural and urban India. This SPU will take the necessary measure towards this direction."
He further added, "The trial production from this unit has started since January 2019. Started with the technical expertise from Bokaro and Rourkela Steel Plant, this SPU will get raw materials from Bokaro Steel Plant. Being an agricultural intensive area and the areas around this place has huge requirements of pipes. The Unit with an installed capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year will play an important role in development of this region."
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan while praising SAIL for setting this SPU in this region said, "This Steel Processing Unit is a dream of the local people and beginning of production from this unit is dream come true for them. I am sure that this Unit will expand its capacity in coming times and will generate more employment opportunities for people. Setting up of industries like this not only brings development to the area but also ushers in happiness all around."
Shri Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Chairman SAIL, said, "It is a matter of pride that SAIL, in its 60th year of production coinciding with observance of the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi ji, is facilitating the dedication of SPU at the place of Gandhi Ji's first satyagraha at Champaran in Bettiah. This unit is ready for commercial production. This unit will help meeting the steel tubes and pipes requirement in Bettiah and Champaran including the nearby areas of east Uttar Pradesh. The steel tubes produced from this unit can be used for construction works while the steel pipes can be used for water transportation and sewerage etc."
Both Government of India and the National Steel Policy 2017 are emphasizing on increasing the steel consumption in rural India. SAIL is also working to increase the share of its value added steel production. Towards this, SAIL has set up Steel Processing Units in those semi-urban and rural areas where it does not have integrated steel plants. And this SPU is an important unit in that series.
Starting under the supervision of SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant, this SPU has an installed capacity of 50,000 tonnes yearly and Bokaro Steel Plant will supply raw materials to this SPU. This SPU is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 116 Crore with the technical expertise from SAIL's Bokaro and Rourkela Steel Plants.
The trial production from the larger tube mill has already begun in this SPU and the production from the smaller tube will soon begin.
Being an agricultural area, it has a lot of demand for high quality pipes. This unit will help in fulfilling the requirements of these in the areas adjoining Bettiah and Champaran along with regions of East Uttar Pradesh