India's steel production has gone up by 24 per cent during the last five years to 81.69 million tonnes in 2013-14, Parliament was informed today.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Vishnu Deo Sai said steel production was 65.84 million tonnes in 2009-10.
The production went up to 70.67 million tonnes in 2010-11 and to 74.29 million tonnes in 2011-12 and further to 78.42 million tonnes in 2012-13.
The Minister said an inter ministerial group (IMG) has been set up in the Steel Ministry for effective coordination and expediting implementation of various investment projects in the steel sector.
Sai said SAIL and RINL, two state-run steel makers, have invested Rs 9,890 crore and Rs 1,512 crore respectively in the last fiscal.
"Steel is a regulated sector and the detail of investment of the steel plants operating in the private sector are not maintained by the government," he said.
Replying to another question, he said Ministry of Mines has prepared a draft of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2014 seeking to amend the existing Act.
"The draft Bill is presently put up on the website of the Ministry of Mines inviting comments/suggestions as part of the pre-legislative consulting process ...No definite date for the introduction of the Bill has yet been finalised," he said.
