■ Staff Reporter
BHILAI,
UNION Minister for Steel and
Heavy Industries, H D
Kumaraswamy, lauded Bhilai
Steel Plant’s (BSP) consistent
performance and significant
contributions to the Central
Government’s exchequer. The
Minister praised BSP’s strong
standing among other steel
plants in India.
Kumaraswamy emphasised
that BSP’s Blast Furnace-8 and
other Modex Units, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in 2018, are operating at
full capacity, driving the plant’s
ever-increasing production. He
expressed confidence in BSP’s
ability to surpass its previous
best performance.
Addressing concerns about
the proposed privatisation of
certain Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs),
including Ferro Scrap Nigam
Limited (FSNL), the Minister
assured that any decisions
would be made in the best
interests of the common people and the nation.
Regarding the ongoing operations of BIT in Bhilai House
Campus despite the contract’s
expiration and the increasing
encroachment in the township,
Kumaraswamy acknowledged
the concerns raised by associations, trade unions, and other organisations. He promised
that these issues would be
addressed promptly.
The Minister recognised the
challenges faced by BSP’s township and indicated that management-level measures, in co-ordination with relevant agencies, would be
implemented to improve living conditions and surroundings. The Union Minister was accompanied by SAIL
Chairman Amarendu Prakash and senior officials
Union Minister
visits BSP
BHILAI,
UNION Minister of Heavy
Industries and Steel, H D
Kumaraswamy, visited SAILBSP. He was accompanied by
Amarendu Prakash, ChairmanSAIL; Anirban Dasgupta, Director
I/c (SAIL-BSP), Anjani Kumar, ED
(Works) and Senior Officers of
the Plant welcomed H D
Kumaraswamy, and Amarendu
Prakash, upon arrival at BSP H D Kumaraswamy also took part in Vishwakarma Puja
at the Plant.
It is worth mentioning that this was Kumaraswamy’s
maiden visit to BSP after assuming his office as Union
Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel. Also, it was the
first time that Amarendu Prakash visited BSP after taking charge as Chairman-SAIL on May 31, 2023.
At the outset Union Minister Kumaraswamy and
Chairman-SAIL Amarendu Prakash reached the Safety
Excellence Centre, where they were briefed about necessary safety instructions for visiting the Plant. During
the Plant visit, Union Minister took keen interest in operations at Modex Units, including Battery 7 and 8 of Coke
Oven and Coal Chemicals Department, Blast Furnace8, Steel Melting Shop-3, and Universal Rail Mill. He witnessed the production of hot metal at B F-8, production
of crude steel at SMS-3, rolling of the world’s longest 130-
metre rail at URM. Vijay Baghel, Member of Parliament
(Durg) was also present at URM.
This was followed by visit to Ispat Bhawan where during an interaction with a cross-section of Senior Officials,
an Overview Presentation on highlights of the performance, process of steel production, and Application
of BSP’s products in projects of National Importance, CSR
& HRD Initiatives, Employee Engagement Initiatives and
other areas was made. Union Minister Kumaraswamy,
interacted at length with Chairman-SAIL Amarendu
Prakash, Director I/c of SAIL-BSP Anirban Dasgupta, S
Mukhopadhyay, ED (Projects), AK Chakraborty, ED (MM),
Pawan Kumar, ED (HR), BK Giri, ED (Mines), DN Karan,
Acting ED (F&A and Senior Officials on different aspects
of current performance, as well as about plans for the
future.
Kumaraswamy, in his address to Senior
Management, stated that He is satisfied to see the progress
achieved by SAIL-BSP in the Steel Sector as regards its
performance, products, and homely working atmosphere. BSP is not only producing high-quality steel but
also contributing amply to the growth and development
of the nation and the entire Chhattisgarh Region.
Chairman-SAIL Amarendu Prakash apprised the Union
Minister about various Awards and Accolades earned by
BSP Employees in national and international Quality
Circles and stated that BSP is the Flagship Unit of SAIL.
Bhilai being a cosmopolitan city is like a Mini India with
people from various regions of the country living in harmony with each other, added Amarendu Prakash. Anirban Dasgupta, Director I/c (SAIL-BSP), in his
address, stated that the Safety Circles as initiated by SAILBhilai Steel Plant are also working efficiently in line with
Quality Circles. Besides safety it focuses on quality, productivity, motivation, and Communication, said Dasgupta.
Union Minister Kumaraswamy was given Guard of
Honour by CISF Jawans at Bhilai Niwas, before his departure for Raipur Airport. Pratibha Agrawal, DIG (CISF),
and Vijay Baghel, MP (Durg) was also present during the
Guard of Honour Ceremony at Bhilai Niwas.