SteelMin mulls plant at Jagdishpur in UP

Minister of State for Steel Beni Prasad Varma today said the ministry is contemplating a proposal for setting up a steel plant with the association of a Japanese firm at Jagdishpur in Amethi parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh.

"We have called a Japanese company with whose collaboration we plan to set up a major steel plant in Jagdishpur," Varma, who was on a maiden visit to the state capital after being inducted in the Union government, told reporters here.

The minister said that the Japanese firm has already started survey for the project for which required land was already available. "We also plan to start manufacturing of modern steel in the state. Besides Japan we are also in touch with some Korean companies," he said.

Varma also said that though he was bit pained on being inducted as a junior minister at the Centre, he has been assured of better prospect.

"I was bit pained on being inducted as minister of state, but there would have been some compulsion before the leadership," Varma said.

"But I have been assured on this front and soon I will top," he added.

In a reply to a question Beni said that steel was a bigger ministry as compared to telecom of which he had been a Cabinet minister in the past. "I am having an independent charge with no senior or junior minister," he said.

Varma said that Uttar Pradesh was backward industrial sector and to promote it the ministry plans to set up small steel projects in the state.

"If Mayawati provides land we intend to set up small plants in UP ... We plan to boost industrial sector in the state," he said.

The minister said that if Mayawati does not provide the land it will get a befitting reply in 2012 state assembly elections.