Centre’s Overnight U-Turn On Vizag Steel Plant Shocks Many

On Thursday, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh stated that the Vizag steel plant (VSP) will not be privatized overnight and many thought the BJP led NDA government has gone a step back on the privatization row.

Well in less than 24 hours, here is the u-turn from the government of India. The Ministry of Steel released a press statement that the disinvestment in RINL (Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited) is under progress which means the privatization is moving forward.

“The Ministry of Steel has clarified that there is no freeze on the disinvestment process of RINL. Clarifying about some media reports regarding hold on the disinvestment process of RINL, the Ministry of Steel said that disinvestment process of RINL is under progress and efforts are being made by the company and supported by the Government to improve the performance of RINL and keep it as a going concern,” read the statement.

As per the bidding process, the last date for filing the Express of Interest (EoI) ends tomorrow i.e, April 15th. The BRS led Telangana government is showing interest in taking up this project but it is inviting backlash from the YCP government that the BRS is supporting the privatization row.