(a) whether the Government propose to set up steel plants at any other place like Bhilai steel plant in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh;
(b) if so, whether it will be set up under public sector or private sector; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard so far?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (SHRI BRAJA KISHORE TRIPATHY)
(a)to(c): The Union Government at present have no proposal to set up any new/green-field steel plant in the country. According to the New Industrial Policy announced in July 1991, steel industry has been de-licensed and removed from the list of industries reserved for the public sector subject to certain locational restrictions. No industrial licence is, therefore, required for setting up of iron and steel plants under the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 and the entrepreneurs are free to set up such plants anywhere in the country except in the restricted locations.