Parl panel asks Steel Min to help resolve green clearances

A Parliamentary panel today suggested the Steel Ministry to play a "proactive role" in resolving issues like obtaining environmental clearances, a major "roadblock" in projects implementation.
Standing Committee on Coal and Steel, chaired by Rakesh Singh, in its report also recommended the ministry should inform it about the progress of setting up of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).
Although, steel is a deregulated sector since 1991-92, the committee said the government should not absolve itself from the crucial facilitative role it has to play in preparation of a roadmap so that the enhanced target of 300 million tonnes (MT) of production by 2025 is realised.

The present steel production is at 88 MT as against an installed capacity of 108 MT, the Panel added.
"... The ministry should also play a proactive role to resolve certain contentious issues especially like obtaining environmental clearances which have become a major roadblock in implementation of many projects," it said.
The committee also asked the Steel Ministry to apprise it of the "details of MoUs signed among CPSEs, State Governments and State Public Enterprises for setting up of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in the States of Odisha, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh and the progress made therein."

Earlier this year, the government had announced that it will set up ultra mega steel plants in four states by forming SPVs in collaboration with PSUs and States.

The panel also asked the ministry about the status of its recommendation on the merger of Orissa Minerals Development Company Limited (OMDC), Bisra Stone Lime Company Limited (BSLC) with state-run steel maker RINL.
"The committee note that instead of giving any details of the action, the Ministry of Steel have merely stated that they have noted the observation of the Committee.S
"The Committee, therefore, desire that they may be apprised of the action being taken by the Ministry for merger of these subsidiary companies with RINL," it added.
The committee said that Steel Ministry is "silent" on the its recommendation regarding manpower and infrastructure available with Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd (HSCL) to undertake works in rural areas of Tripura and Jharkhand.

"As the Committee has been actively pursuing the matter of restructuring proposal of HSCL, the Committee would also like to be apprised of manpower and infrastructure available with HSCL to undertake the above referred works in Jharkhand and Tripura," it added.