BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday proposed that Biju Patnaik National Steel Institute at Puri should be upgraded to a national level educational institution at par with the IITs.
The Chief Minister raised the issue during a meeting with Union Minister of Steel Birendra Singh at the Secretariat here. The institute set up in 2002 is now providing certificate courses in different streams. Centre had decided to introduce B Tech, M Tech and PHDs in different streams after making the institute autonomous in 2004, said Naveen and requested the Union Minister to implement the decision as early as possible.
He also proposed that the Centre should set up a cement plant in Sundargarh district. He said 230 hectares limestone and dolomite mines was leased out to the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). SAIL has stopped mining from the mine since March, 2003. He said steps should be taken to start mining by SAIL and set up a cement plant in the district.
Besides, the Chief Minister said, the State Government has a proposal to transfer five hectare vacant land in the Rourkela Steel Plant town area to Housing and Urban Development Department to set up a sewage plant. He requested the Union Minister to clear the proposal as early as possible in the interest of common people.
The Union Minister assured that the Centre will take steps on the proposals of the Chief Minister. The two leaders discussed about setting up a steel hub at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district. Minister for steel and mines Prafulla Kumar Mallik, senior officials from the Centre and State Government attended the meeting.
Singh also visited Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district during the day and interacted with managing directors and chief executive officers (CEOs) of major steel producing units located in the State.
Officers from the Central Government and the State Government were also present at the meeting. Singh said India has become the second largest steel producing nation in 2018. In fiscal 2017-18, India has produced more than 100 million tonnes of steel, he said.