(a) whether the Government propose to set up new steel plants in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, location-wise;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether representations from States have been received in this regard;
(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(f) the names of the States where private sector companies have also proposed to set up steel plants?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL (SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY)
(a) to (c): The Union Government at present has no proposal to set up any new steel
plant in the Central Public Sector. According to the New Industrial Policy announced in July 1991, `Iron and Steel` has been removed from the `list of Industries reserved for the Public Sector` and also exempted from the requirement of compulsory licensing; save for certain locational restrictions. No Industrial Licence is therefore, required for setting up of iron and steel plants and the entrepreneurs are free to set up such plants in the permissible locations.
(d) No, Sir.
(e) Does note arise in view of (d) above.
(f) The names of the states where private sector companies are setting up or have proposed to set up steel plants in the post-liberalization era are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.