Orissa to help achieve national steel prod targets

Orissa will play a major role in achieving the national target of raising the steel production to 250 mtpa by 2020, the state government said today.

"As India aims at raising steel production to 250 mtpa by 2020 from the current level of 65 mtpa, Orissa will be a major contributor envisaging an output of 90 mtpa," told Orissa Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy to reporters here.

Tripathy, who is also chairman of the organising committee of the international convention on clean, green and sustainable technologies in iron and steel making, said that out of the total 65 million tonnes of steel produced by India now, the state contributes a significant 10 million tonnes.

The state has signed 49 MoUs to set up steel industries, out of which 28 have already started partial production.     

"As far as Orissa is concerned, the state has been fastly transforming from an agriculture economy to an industrial economy. Raising steel production has become a major challenge before the state. It requires adequate infrastructure and other facilities for investors," Tripathy said.