GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of: Steel

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1089
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

Revival of VISP by SAIL

1089. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the proposal for grant of mining lease for Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISP) at Bhadravathi has been cleared by the Secretary (Mines, Textile & SSI), Government of Karnataka and whether the mine issue is cleared by the Mines Tribunal;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has any strategic plans for the revival of VISP and if so, the details of the implementation thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL AND MINES
(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a)&(b): Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Mines, Government of India vide Notification dated 21.10.2011 reserved an area of 140 Ha in NEB Range, Bellary District, Karnataka as a captive source of iron ore for SAIL-VISP. However, the coordinates furnished and published in the Gazette Notification were erroneous. Hence, the State Government issued order dated 08.09.2014 for resurvey of the area and revision of co-ordinates.

This order of the State Government was challenged by the neighbouring lessee, which was rejected by the Mines Tribunal (Revisionary Authority, Ministry of Mines, Government of India) on 07.05.2015. This order has been challenged by the neighbouring lessee in the Delhi High Court and the matter is sub-judice.

In the meantime, the State Government has sent the revised co-ordinates to the Ministry of Mines, Government of India on 03.06.2015.

(c) SAIL is continually investing for overall growth and improving profitability of VISP. As part of this process, a bloom caster with 1,25,000tonnes annual capacity and one 30 tonne pusher type Reheating Furnace for Primary Mill have been installed.