The Union Steel Ministry’s response to the demand for the merger of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate arm of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has left the leaders and activists, who have been fighting for it, disappointed.
Answering to an unstarred question in this regard by Uttar Pradesh MP Aditya Yadav in the Parliament, Union Minister of State for Steel Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma said, “There are no proposals under consideration for the merger of RINL with SAIL. The Centre has approved infusion of ₹11,440 crore into the RINL.”
Visakha Ukku Parirakshana Porata Committee convener Ayodhya Ramu described the response as unfortunate.
The Porata Committee have been demanding that the Centre should merge the RINL with the SAIL ever since their protest began against the proposed strategic sale of the steel plant.
“RINL and SAIL are government-owned companies. Not a single rupee will be wasted if both are merged. Rather, it will create a giant steel company which will move forward progressively. With the expansion, the RINL has developed infrastructure, but it does not have captive mines, while SAIL has its own mines. The merger will not cause any loss to either SAIL or RINL in the long run. This is the best and viable option left for the government to revive the RINL from losses,” Mr. Ramu said.
Another leader of the Visakha Ukku Porata Committe, and CPI(M) State secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao said, “The Steel Minister replied without mentioning why there is no proposal for the merger. We are talking to Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, John Brittas, to raise the VSP issue in the Parliament.”
Published – July 31, 2025 12:55 am IST
