SEA delegation meets MPs, renews call for merger of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with SAIL

Representatives of the Visakhapatnam Steel Officers Association (SEA), Katam S.S. Chandra Rao and K.V.D. Prasad, met several Members of Parliament during the winter session to reiterate their demand for merging the RINL–Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

The delegation met MPs in New Delhi on Sunday, including Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayulu (TDP), Kolar MP M. Mallesh Babu (Janata Dal–Secular), and Bangalore Rural MP C.N. Manjunatha (BJP), urging them to take the initiative to resolve the challenges faced by the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

They appealed to the government to retain the steel sector under the strategic sector permanently and to facilitate the merger of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with SAIL. The association members emphasized that healthy competition is essential in any industry, noting that the steel sector plays a vital role in national development and provides employment to lakhs of people.

They also briefed the MPs on the developments that have taken place at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant over the past two years.

According to a statement released by SEA, all the MPs responded positively and assured them that the issues would be brought to the attention of Union Steel Minister Kumaraswamy.

“Hindupur MP and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Steel and Coal, B.K. Parthasarathy, also assured us that he would work towards facilitating the merger of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with the Steel Authority of India Limited,” the SEA representatives added.