(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned `Voest-Alpine may let SAIL pay for upgrade with steel` appearing in the Economic Times dated February 5, 2000;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL (SHRI DILIP RAY)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) Steel Authority of India Limited has reported that at present there is no proposal from M/s. Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau Gmbh (VAI) to take up the job of modernising the Cold Rolling Mills of Steel Authority of India Limited, in lieu of buy back of steel.
(c) Does not arise in view of (b) above.