(a) the number of sponge iron plants established in public and private sectors in the country including Maharashtra at present, State-wise;
(b) the number of opportunities for employment generated through the said plants, plant-wise;
(c) whether there is any provision for reserving a certain percentage of jobs created thereby for the local people; and
(d) if so, the details thereof particularly regarding the backward and tribal areas and the action taken thereon so far?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF (SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)
STEEL AND MINES
(a) The number of sponge iron plants established in public and private sectors in the country including Maharashtra at present are given below:-
PUBLIC SECTOR
Sl. No. State No. of Units
1 Telangana 1
PRIVATE SECTOR
1 Jharkhand 64
2 Odisha 122
3 West Bengal 41
4 Chhattisgarh 57
5 Goa 3
6 Gujarat 2
7 Maharashtra 13
8 Andhra Pradesh 8
9 Karnataka 31
10 Kerala 2
11 Tamil Nadu 7
12 Telangana 15
TOTAL 366
(b)to(d): Government does not maintain data regarding number of employees in respect of private sector units. In the public sector, one sponge iron plant is being operated by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) at Paloncha, Khammam District, Telangana State, in which 194 employees are working. Employment opportunities as well as the reservation in employment in public sector units are provided as per the NMDC recruitment policy and Government of India guidelines.
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