Lokesh Urges Centre For Speedy Nod To Mittal Plant
Calls on Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy; ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel setting up Rs 1.4-trn steel plant
IT, Electronics & Education Minister of AP Nara Lokesh presenting a box containing Araku Organic Coffee to Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Steel HD Kumaraswamy in New Delhi on Wednesday. Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, MoS for Heavy Industries & Steel Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma and Vizag MP M Sribharat are also seen
Visakhapatnam: Stating that large scale employment opportunities will be provided to the youth in Andhra Pradesh once the ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel India (AM/NS) proposed integrated steel plant at Anakapalle becomes operational, Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Wednesday urged HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, to issue early approval for the plant envisaged with an estimated investment of Rs1.40 lakh crore. On the second day of his New Delhi trip, Lokesh called on Kumaraswamy and thanked him for sanctioning Rs11,440-crore revival package to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
The IT Minister also took the blessings of the former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, father of Kumaraswamy at the latter’s residence and inquired about his health condition.
Thanking Kumaraswamy profusely for coming to the rescue of RINL, considered pride of AP, Lokesh said that the funds are released with a generous heart after realising the sentiments of the people of the State and the concern of thousands of workers of the unit. He also extended thanks to Kumaraswamy for personally visiting the steel plant to have first-hand information on the problems being faced by the workers besides initiating steps to increase productivity.
Maintaining that the setting up of ArcelorMittal steel plant at Anakapalle will create huge employment to the youth, he sought the cooperation of the Centre for early completion of the formalities like sanctioning of permissions for the plant.
During his meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lokesh requested him to sanction a defence cluster in AP and locate some defence projects in the State to generate large-scale employment. He told him that Visakhapatnam is an important defence hub and the AP Government is laying emphasis on developing the State as a strategic centre for maritime activities.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Bhupatiraju Srinivas, who represent AP in the Parliament, Varma were also present.
Education Min conclave
Lokesh, who is also holding the portfolio of education, told Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a separate meeting that AP is ready to host the upcoming all India Education Ministers’ conclave.
He represented Pradhan to sanction funds liberally for KGBVs, skill education, ICT-based learning and quality enhancement. Stating that the AP Government is keen on strengthening the primary education system, he sought an increase in allocations made in the 2025-26 Union Budget.
Appealing for massive Central assistance for progress of high schools under Purvodaya scheme, he sought sanction of Rs3,229 crore for improving basic amenities on the university campuses, Rs555 crore for constructing buildings for 37 government colleges and another Rs330 crore for improving infrastructure in the existing degree colleges.
